Pathways to educational success among refugees: Connecting locally and globally situated resources.

Abstract

This study identifies pathways to educational success among refugees. Data are from an original online survey of Somali diaspora and in-depth qualitative interviews with Somali refugee students educated in the Dadaab refugee camps of Kenya. This research builds on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, to consider both the locally- and globally-situated nature of resources across refugees’ ecosystems. Analysis examines the nature and content of studentidentified supports and their perceived influence on access and persistence in school, as well as the mediating role of technology. The findings suggest consideration of both locally-situated relationships and globally-situated relationships, as critical educational supports. Implications include leveraging naturally occurring virtual relationships to support educational success of refugees and other young people who are physically isolated from access to needed supports in their local region.