The journey of young people who migrate alone
Migration processes and institutional itineraries
Supporting Agencies
- Ministerio de Ciencias e innovación (RTI2018-095259-B-I00, MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE)
Abstract
The aim of this article is to address the migration process of young people who migrate alone to Barcelona, to find out about the geographical and institutional itinerary they have to follow and to learn about the situations they face in Barcelona. For this purpose, a qualitative descriptive study was carried out using interview and discussion group techniques to identify and triangulate the views of three groups: young people who have migrated alone to Barcelona, educators who work in institutions with these young people, and the managers of the centres. 42 young people, 15 educators and 2 people in charge of DGAIA and third sector entities, respectively, participated. The results show that there are shared motivations for migrating, mainly linked to situations of precariousness in their countries of origin and the search for a better future. At the same time, it was observed that previous expectations are very different from the reality they face when they arrive in Barcelona. On the other hand, different geographical itineraries and routes of arrival in Barcelona, and different institutional circuits were identified, mainly characterised by the differences between the autonomous communities through which they have passed. Finally, the street situation in which some of them live is highly precarious and vulnerable, and is mainly experienced by older youths or minors who have fled from the centres.
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