Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0001-7784-5907
Abstract
Ireland has experienced significant demographic change over recent decades, creating new opportunities and challenges for the socio-educational integration of migrant and refugee children. While research has identified a range of factors associated with successful integration outcomes, less attention has been paid to the processes through which integration and belonging are fostered within community and educational settings. Drawing on data from the Horizon 2020 IMMERSE (Integration Mapping of Refugee and Migrant Children in Educational and Other Experiential Environments in Europe) project, this paper examines nine Irish initiatives identified as examples of good practice in supporting migrant and refugee children and their families.
Using a qualitative thematic approach informed by the IMMERSE indicator framework, the study explores how these initiatives promote socio-educational inclusion across educational, community, and family contexts. The analysis identifies four interconnected mechanisms that support integration: cross-sectoral collaboration, cultural brokerage, family and intergenerational engagement, and participation in informal and creative spaces. Together, these mechanisms create opportunities for participation, recognition, relationship-building, and access to resources.
The findings suggest that belonging functions not only as an outcome of integration but also as a process through which integration is achieved and sustained. While the characteristics of effective integration initiatives are well established within the literature, this study contributes by examining how these characteristics operate together in practice to foster belonging. The paper also highlights challenges associated with sustainability, including funding insecurity and structural barriers affecting migrant families. The findings have implications for policy and practice, highlighting the importance of sustained investment in community-based and cross-sectoral approaches capable of supporting the relational work through which belonging and integration are fostered.
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Recommended Citation
Martin, Shirley Dr; O'Riordan, Jacqui Dr; and Masheti, Naomi Dr
(2026)
"Embedding Belonging: Community-Based Good Practices Supporting the Integration of Migrant Children and Young People in Ireland,"
Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies:
Vol. 26:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijass/vol26/iss1/7