Exploratory Study of the Resettlement Experiences of Burmese Refugees Children in the USA

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the educational and resettlement experiences of Burmese refugee children in the USA. Transition and migration in itself are a difficult task for refugees due to the demands associated with adjustment to a new way of life in a different environment, and even more so for children, as the events co-occur with the developmental changes they experience. The study has employed qualitative research methods in the form of in-depth interviews to examine the subjective experiences of the participants. Using the purposive sampling method, twenty-eight Burmese refugee children participated in a one-on-one in-depth interview. Respondents ranged in age from ten to seventeen years, with the majority being girls (53.6 per cent). The average length of time in the USA was 5.8 years. Analysis of the data revealed three key themes that relate to school experience, bi-cultural dynamics and changing role expectations, and future hopes and aspirations. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.