Exploring the psychological needs of cross-border unaccompanied minors in Johannesburg: how cross-border unaccompanied minors are challenging psychosocial programmes

[摘要] Background:This research investigates the psychosocial needs of cross-border unaccompaniedminors (UAMs) within urban Johannesburg, a city that attracts nearly half of all thecross-border migrant population in South Africa (Landau and Gindrey, 2008). Thefocus of the research is dual; firstly, it explores what the prime psychosocial needs ofUAMs are by eliciting them from the UAMs themselves via participatory researchworkshops. South Africa, by law, has an obligation to all UAMs to provide for them.By ascertaining these needs, this study reveals discrepancies between existingpsychosocial programmes designed and provided by the government or serviceproviders and the needs of the UAM. Secondly, the research examines how UAMs aretrying to satisfy their psychosocial needs. Identifying the psychosocial needs ofUAMs and their coping mechanisms gives us a better understanding of the nature ofthe issues UAMs face, as well as their subjective perception of and priority they placeon those issues. This can consequently contribute (a) to providing constructivesuggestions on designing psychosocial programmes by governmental, nongovernmentalorganisations (NGOs), and non-profit organisations (NPOs) and (b)valuable input to further research on livelihood-seeking UAMs, a group that iscurrently under-represented in cross-border UAM studies, unlike asylum seeking orrefugee UAMs.Aims: The aim of this study is to understand the psychosocial needs of UAMs and how theyare meeting those needs in Johannesburg. This will provide insights on the nature ofthe psychosocial needs of UAMs that will ultimately be helpful both to governmentagencies as well as NGOs and NPOs responsible for programme planning, legislation,and execution of policies regarding cross-border UAMs. Finally, the study aims todraw attention to livelihood-seeking UAMs and to encourage further research on thisparticular group of UAMs. Therefore my research question is: what are thepsychosocial needs of cross-border UAMs in Johannesburg?Methods:In this study, a qualitative research approach is used with the aim of uncovering thepsychosocial needs of cross-border UAMs. This was done by using participatoryaction research and a visual methodology. The data was elicited via two participatoryworkshops, the first with 36 cross-border minors participants and the second with 12cross-border UAM participants. This was followed by a series of group discussionsafter the workshops. Afterwards, a comparison between the participants’ visual inputswith their narratives and responses allowed me to extrapolate their psychosocial needsand ways in which they meet those needs. Adding to the study, 11 semi-structuredinterviews were conducted with service providers from various organisations, bothnon-governmental and governmental. Finally, the data was compiled from both thecross-border UAM s and service providers to answer the research question and objectives. Conclusion:This research identifies and discusses the following psychosocial needs of crossborderUAMs: family, a care-giver, documentation, fitting-in with their SouthAfrican peers, security, schooling, better life quality (economic and socialadvancement), counselling, and playing. The four themes in bold text representpsychosocial needs, which continue to be unmet or unfulfilled by service providerscurrent responses. Although the basic (ontological) needs of cross-border UAMs seemto be met (i.e., food, housing, clothing), psychosocial needs - those needed foremotional well-being - are undermined because service providers do not see them asfundamental as basic needs.One conclusion from my study is that NGOs can better cater to UAMs’ psychosocialneeds due to their flexible infrastructure that can accommodate personalisation andprompt redesigning of programmes offered, in contradistinction to the recalcitrantgovernmental infrastructure. Currently service providers, such as governmentaldepartments, NGOs and NPOs use the law (such as the Children’s Act (2008)),regulations or psychosocial programmes to aid cross-border UAMs, but these lawsand programmes are manufactured for either homogenous groups or very specificgroups such as refugees and asylum seekers. However, there are persisting gaps in theservices available. These gaps are due to the varied nature of psychosocialneeds that each 'child’ has to meet, which is also contingent on their own backgroundand personality. Under the Children’s Act (2008), minors are categorised as ahomogeneous group and therefore individual needs are overlooked. Organisationsboth governmental and non-governmental have tried to incorporate child friendlypractices, although in most of the interviews it was mentioned that policy, such as theChildren’s Act (2008), is not necessarily 'child’ or 'family’ friendly.Overall this research indicates that NGOs and NPOs are well-equipped to cater to thepsychosocial needs of UAMs, such as school, family reunification and basic needs.Certain psychosocial needs, however, such as 'fitting-in’, are still unmet. In thesecases, UAMs resort to catering to their own needs (lke living on the street in selfappointedfamilies), relying on service providers for emotional support and/or basic needs.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand