Título
The intermediate generation: integration of young Nepalese immigrants in Portugal
Autor
Maharjan, Rojika
Resumo
en
This research examined the integration process of young Nepalese immigrants, who arrived
through family reunification, in Lisbon, Portugal. The study pertained to three central objectives;
i) to determine the integration process of these young Nepalese immigrants ii) to understand the
perspective of the young immigrants’ parents and iii) to identify positive and negative aspects
surrounding these young immigrants’ integration in Portugal. The research used a mixed-method
approach; including in-depth interviews, focus-group discussion and field observation for
qualitative data, and secondary data analysis for quantitative data. 17 participants, consisting of
fathers, mothers and young people belonging to six Nepalese families, were engaged in semistructured interviews. This was complemented with a focus group discussion among 7 young
Nepalese immigrants, and a consistent field work midst the Nepalese circle. The study also
analyzed relevant secondary data related to Nepalese families and young immigrants in Portugal.
The dissertation summarized the context of young Nepalese immigrants’ integration in Portugal
through the lens of citizenship, labour market integration, school integration, housing conditions,
language acquisition, culture, gender perspectives, leisure and interests, belongingness to the
country and future ambitions. The study defined that the time spent in the receiving country and
the age of the young immigrants at arrival play a vital role in determining how well the young
immigrants integrate into these various dimensions, or vice versa. It also found that majority of
Nepalese young immigrants faced challenges for language fluency, school integration and
sociability with Portuguese counterparts, with some facing issues of bullying as well. The study
also ascertained that there was emergent problem in Nepalese youth in Lisbon such as drug and
substance abuse which can be an indicator of a negative outcome of integration. It additionally
distinguished the parents’ outlook on integration process of their children which underlined
pervasiveness of parental longings regarding the young immigrants’ integration into the labour
market, but not preferring them to integrate into the youth culture and lifestyle of Portugal.