YOUTH-HOME · Migrant male youth home-making in Ireland

Transnational and local im/mobilities affect migrants’ sense of belonging or ‘feeling at home’. Migration continues to dominate political debates in the EU with young male migrants playing centre stage in media representations and policy agendas and often portrayed as incompatible with and a threat to the fabric of European societies. Ireland is experiencing growing immigration (2017-18 net migration n=90,300, the highest since 2008) as well as an increase in the number of international students (10% of current Higher Education population), a number to escalate further after Brexit (March 2019). Despite these rapid changes, research on the experiences of home-making among young male migrants and their sense of belonging to society is consistently underdeveloped. YOUTH-HOME aims to conduct a rigorous comparative multistage study with young male migrants (18-25 year-old refugee youth and non-EU students) to understand the impact of domestic home-making on urban belonging in Cork and integration in Irish society. Using an intersectional feminist analysis, novel research methods and policy analysis, along with intensive training and career development, YOUTH-HOME positions the Researcher to make a unique contribution to knowledge and policy and to achieve professional maturity and independence. Home-making is complex and multi-dimensional. YOUTH-HOME applies innovative mixed methodology to capture migrant youth home-making practices and meaning-making through policy analysis, semi-structured interviews, photo-diaries of domestic spaces, walking interviews and co-creating a mobile ‘app’ about home-making in Cork. This preliminary in-depth study provides a critical understanding into the importance of 'home-making' to inform local, national and European policies on migrant youth integration and delivers a strong basis for larger studies in other European contexts. The extensive dissemination plan (academic, intersectoral, public) will ensure societal and European impact