Coping with Displacement: Manifestations of Resilience Among Colombian Refugees in New Zealand

• López Severiche, Alfredo José ^[1]
  1. [1] Auckland University of Technology

     Auckland University of Technology

     Nueva Zelanda

     
• Localización: Revista Internacional de Estudios Migratorios (RIEM), ISSN-e 2173-1950, Vol. 13, Nº. 2, 2023, págs. 114-139
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.25115/riem.v13i2.6226
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Enfrentando el Desplazamiento: Manifestaciones de Resiliencia entre los Refugiados Colombianos en Nueva Zelanda
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Este estudio investiga cómo los refugiados colombianos han demostrado resiliencia durante su proceso de reasentamiento y adaptación en Nueva Zelanda. La investigación involucró a 13 ex refugiados colombianos que fueron reubicados en Nueva Zelanda desde Ecuador, donde fueron reconocidos como refugiados por el gobierno ecuatoriano con la asistencia del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (ACNUR). Una de las motivaciones para emprender esta investigación fue la escasez de estudios académicos sobre refugiados colombianos en Nueva Zelanda, así como examinar cómo muestran resiliencia después de su reubicación. Además, el objetivo era contribuir al avance de la investigación sobre refugiados colombianos en Nueva Zelanda y proporcionar información a todas las organizaciones de refugiados en el país sobre sus esfuerzos de reasentamiento e integración. La historia oral y la etnografía sirvieron como metodologías de investigación en este estudio. Se llevaron a cabo doce entrevistas de historia oral semiestructuradas con los participantes. Además, se realizó un grupo de discusión y cuatro participantes compartieron sus diarios personales. Los resultados de esta investigación revelaron que la resiliencia mostrada por los refugiados colombianos en Nueva Zelanda ha sido crucial para superar los obstáculos de la integración, particularmente los desafíos del dominio limitado del inglés, los problemas de salud mental, la discriminación y el desempleo.

  • English

    This study investigates how Colombian refugees have exhibited resilience during their resettlement and adaptation process in New Zealand. The research involved 13 former Colombian refugees who were relocated to New Zealand from Ecuador, where they were acknowledged as refugees by the Ecuadorian government with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). One of the motivations for undertaking this research was the scarcity of academic studies on Colombian refugees in New Zealand, as well as to examine how resilience is displayed by them following their relocation. Additionally, the aim was to contribute to the advancement of research on Colombian refugees in New Zealand and provide insights to all refugee organisations in the country regarding their resettlement and integration efforts. Oral history and ethnography served as the research methodologies in this study. Twelve semi-structured oral history interviews were carried out with the participants. Moreover, one focus group was conducted, and four participants shared their personal diaries. The outcomes of this research revealed that the resilience shown by Colombian refugees in New Zealand has been crucial in overcoming the obstacles of integration, particularly the challenges of limited English proficiency, mental health issues, discrimination, and unemployment.

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