By Osita Ifezue
The conversation around diversity, inclusion, and equality is trending in Finland. Yet, one side of the rhetoric that is often left out is children with immigrant backgrounds. These children migrated with their parents or were born into mixed-family homes. The process of integration for immigrant families is long and challenging. Research indicates that the integration of parents and children is linked. The struggle of the integration process affects both parents and children. When the integration process is smoother for children, it becomes easier for parents. This article examines the dynamics of integration in immigrant families with children. The social issues faced by children of immigrant parents impact their identity. In some cases, these children have to deal with grown-up problems while they are still kids. Sometimes children face the issue of identity and belonging as well, because of issues in the school environment. How is the integration process of the children of immigrants in schools linked to the question of identity and belonging? Could parents and intuition play a part in improving the process? In which ways can we understanding problems better? Are available resources be helpful?
An incident happened at a school in the eastern part of Helsinki in May 2021. A school official used racial slurs many times in an attempt to educate students in dispute. Some children with immigrant backgrounds got offended and sought the attention of the school authorities to weigh in. Unfortunately, the school authorities were not equipped to handle the situation. On arrival at the meeting, the school authorities had a police presence in the school, without prior notification to the parents. That ended the process before it even started. The Ministry of Education had to be invited to find ways to solve the issue. The situation highlights the lack of trust by stakeholders often leaving the children to deal with struggles. What this incident shows is that discrimination and inequality are not always treated with the seriousness they demand in some institutions. Some books used in schools promote racial stereotypes. For example, I saw a book used to teach English to an 8th grader that included stereotypes such as “Africans are fast runners.” Using such books without setting the right context can impact children negatively . In some cases, children are not ready to handle the discrimination or bullying which have resulted in a crisis. Schools should develop a unified framework to handle discrimination issues and how they teach students about discrimination. The framework should have the standard for dealing with issues: to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion for children. The lack of trust in programs meant to help children and parents often hinders the progress, at the expense of children. To effectively deal with the situation that impacts the identities of children, trust is key.
Steps to build synergy by parents
There is a need to improve the synergy between parents, children and schools. All parties need to get involved. Parents can propose meetings with students and school authorities to co-create such a framework. Such meetings could help uncover underlying issues. Some of the ways to be actively involved include:
- Call the teachers to as specifics on your child’s activity while in school.
- Get involved in career counseling programs in school to see if it aligns with the career interest of your child.
- Book meetings with teachers to explain what are your cultural and religious views.
- Get familiar with the books used to instruct your children.
- Keep the communication line open with school officials.
- Ask questions!
Children don’t often share the same experiences as their parents. Parents should pay attention to the needs of their children to help them shape their identity. Use the available tools and resources that are designed to make the integration process seamless. For example, The Finnish Refugee Council provides information and materials to help individuals with the issues of integrating. Peer support groups, and individuals who share similar life situations experiences can come together to offer one another support.
Institutions that collaborate with children and parents should place emphasis on reviewing and improving their systems that may be ineffective or not supportive. It is important to recognize that even when a system appears to be working, there is always room for improvement. A collaborative process with parents, and institutions can create new insights and identify issues in the process. The inclusion approach builds trust that all voices are heard and facilitates the development of solutions. Programs should focus on promoting diversity. Diversity reduces discrimination and results in a comprehensive understanding of core issues affecting the integration process.
There are many programs aimed at helping immigrant parents integrate more seamlessly. To make these truly effective, it’s essential that institutions, parents, and children work together in their development and evolution.
This collaboration must go beyond strategy—engaging parents meaningfully brings in unique perspectives and lived experiences that might otherwise go unnoticed. An inclusive process that involves all stakeholders is key to crafting solutions that respond to the real challenges families face.
As we advocate for diversity and inclusion, we must not only embrace differences but actively work to understand and address the root issues affecting everyone involved. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, we can build a fair, supportive, and nurturing environment for children and families—one where every voice is heard.
