Blogikirjoitus: Nafisa Yeasmin

Who are marginalized?

According to the Finnish statistics immigrant youth are at risk of social exclusion (Henriksson, 2012). In Lapland higher numbers of immigrant youth are at risk of marginalization than whole Finland, because of extreme Arctic weather, lack of social  involvement, hard to get access to the local labour market and cultural activities of their heritage culture, other financial opportunities for living an enjoyable life are comparatively unavailable here in Lapland than southern part of Finland. Locals attitudes towards immigrants are not always so positive. So there is greater risk for immigrant youth being marginalized in Lappish society.

As it is known that youths are defined as vulnerable when they are not having job opportunities or any study programs; lack of education and extracurricular activities and lacking of positive surroundings for the attachment across their own culture. (Yle, 2012.) At that stage, friendship is one of the important elements for the psychological development of the youth. If immigrant youth build a network of relationship with peers from their own culture do not definitely help them to integrate properly, do not provide them knowledge on societal facilities and activities of the host country. They need support from a friend from mainstream society accordingly.

Immigrant youth has to face two different cultures in their everyday life; one inside family along with heritage culture and another is host society along with host culture. They are in-between of the heritage and host culture. Maintaining interaction with both heritage culture and mainstream culture cause difficulties in proper integration for youth. As a result, immigrant youths suffer increased challenges and stress during their integration process. It is also studied before that psychological problems of an immigrant youth are often associated with the absence of the father in the family or a family along with a large number of children. The quality of the interaction within the family decrease, if the family is large and father is absence and immigrant youth lacks all sorts of guidance related to assimilation in the host society. Youth lost their capacity for self- esteem, social competences and determinations correspondently.  Immigrant families and society could play a significant role in integration of immigrant youth in this sparsely populated area. Usually, immigrant families are aware of western practices of their youth and on the other hand societies are not aware of the distinct needs of immigrant parents in the new society. There is a pressing need for better supports for immigrant parents and society to know diverse cultural approaches for better integration of immigrant youth. However, in many cases immigrant parents are beyond social and school discussion. Because, lacking of language, limited knowledge about socio-cultural and education policies of the host country, lack of systematic organization of existing transition services for youth.

On the other hand, it is also studied that a strong commitment to school and education could lessen the chance of harmful effects of marginalization. A teacher or educator can help immigrant youth to increase their academic self-efficacy which refers to a level of confidence or belief for achieving educational assignment and lessons successfully. It is indeed studied that academic self-efficacy support youth to integrate in new community.
A sustainable conceptual framework for ensuring social security of immigrant youth in Lapland is crucial for the well- being of immigrant youth in the region. Therefore, participations of  parents with educators, teachers and mainstream community can play great role for ensuring social security of immigrant youth.

References
Henriksson, Teemu (2012). “Immigrant youth in danger of marginalization.’’ Helsinki Times.
Yle, (2012). Study: More young immigrants marginalised. Every third of immigrant youth and every eight are in danger of Marginalisation in Finland.
Available at, http://yle.fi/uutiset/study_more_young_immigrants_marginalised/5296703 (accessed 14 June, 2016).