Author(s)

Dora Carolo^1,2,3*, Ricardo Carvalho⁴, Carolina Batalha⁵, Susana Gouveia³, Paula Lebre⁶

¹Department of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, Centre of Educational Studies, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
²I & D Unit of Education and Training, Institute of Education, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
³Portuguese Red Cross, Lisbon, Portugal.
⁴Alumni ISEF-INEF-FMH Association, Lisbon, Portugal.
⁵Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
⁶INET-MD-Institute of Ethnomusicology - Dance Studies, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

Afghans constitute one of the largest refugee populations worldwide. Asylum seekers and refugees leave their countries due to conflict, violence, crises, persecution and human rights violations, poverty, lack of essential services, food insecurity or disasters, and the effects of climate change. Adolescents often migrate unaccompanied by a caregiver, facing specific risks in this process. Middle East citizens make up a minor percentage of migrants arriving in Portugal despite the growing numbers after 2016. Portugal is hosting the fourth-highest number of Middle East and North Africa unaccompanied minors among the EU Member States. Thus, starting the discussion and evaluating integration strategies for this target group is imperative. Sport, artistic and cultural activities have been highlighted by research as peace development, social cohesion, and the rapeutical tools. Also, mentoring is identified as a strategy with positive results for youth at risk of developing psychological, social, and behavioural problems. Its application targeting unaccompanied minors (UM) refugees and asylum seekers has gained momentum in a growing number of EU countries receiving refugee citizens from the EU relocation program. This paper aimed to present reflections on the implementing sports, cultural and artistic initiatives as tools of social integration and health promotion within a group of Afghan citizens arriving in Portugal under the international protection law. The reflections and information provided in this publication have the potential to inform Portuguese professionals, namely social education technicians collaborating within the Portuguese refugee relocation program and encourage discussions about the creation of community-based integration programs for this target group.

Asylum Seekers, Unaccompanied Minors, Integration, Portugal

Carolo, D. , Carvalho, R. , Batalha, C. , Gouveia, S. and Lebre, P. (2023) A New Beginning in Portugal: Reflections on the Work Fulfilled by the Portuguese Red Cross Temporary Resettlement Centre on the Integration of Afghan Asylum Seekers. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11, 133-155. doi: 10.4236/jss.2023.1111009.