New project report on transcultural belonging among migrant youth

We are excited to share the Transcultural Approach to Belonging and Engagement among Migrant Youth Report, which maps and compares the experiences of migrant youth in Melbourne, Birmingham and Toronto. Funded by the Australian Research Council, the project has examined how trans-cultural capital can affect young people’s ability to instigate, negotiate and maintain socio-cultural connections locally, trans-locally, and trans-nationally.

The report found that, instead of being “caught” or “lost” between two worlds, migrant youth master and benefit from multiple cultural repertoires, that they can selectively deploy at specific times and spaces.

Almost all participants highlighted the advantage of living in multicultural spaces, and described their identities as fluid, multifaceted, and multi-scaled.

Ultimately, the report finds that ethnic and cultural difference is not a disadvantage, but rather a potential source of capital for themselves and broader society.