Destination Unknown Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa
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Destination Unknown Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa Background & Objectives Championing Children on the Move Hope-Based Communication Evidence-Based Narratives Destination Unknown is a global Hope-based communication is an Destination Unknown engaged Bassline network led by Terre des Hommes approach to campaigning for policies Strategy to conduct online opinion International Federation, working for and advocacy positions, based on five research into a selection of narratives, better protection and respect of the narrative shifts: tools and attitudinal profiles. rights of children on the move. DU seeks 1. From fear to hope Bassline worked with a diverse set of to learn from what works when it comes 2. From what you are against to what respondents to assess the types of to developing campaign tools. you stand for messages that worked best in particular This encourages an approach that 3. From problems to solutions contexts. Participants responded to empowers those directly involved, to 4. From threats to opportunities surveys and completed a series of create positive, lasting change for them. 5. From victims to heroes activities designed to gain an overall Communication should be child-focused, Kristin Hulaas Sunde, a communications profile of messaging strategies which collaborative and evidence-based, and strategist & consultant at worked or did not. grounded in the rights of the children positivecomms.co.uk, who specialises in affected. human rights and migration, has been advising DU on this approach. Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 02 Methodology Following a collaborative process of brainstorming and workshops coordinated by Kristin Hulaas Sunde, Destination Unknown & Bassline Strategy agreed a set of global and local narratives to be put forward for testing. Bassline & its partners recruited a diverse sample of 24 South African respondents for qualitative research. This was conducted via an online community platform, which could be accessed around the clock by participants, and was moderated by Bassline over three days. The online community evolved from light-touch attitudinal profiling on day 1 to explicit feedback on messaging strategies by day 3. Moderation was deliberately non- judgemental, to provide a safe environment in which respondents could offer an honest opinion, and to be respectful of their participation. Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 03 Introductions / What’s on your radar? This opening activity presented participants with an opportunity to introduce themselves and to get a sense of what preoccupies them currently. They were asked to outline what they thought were the main issues in their local communities, South Africa and internationally. Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic was mentioned regularly. However, there were other recurring references to challenges including unemployment, corruption, crime, drugs, gender-based violence, and violence more generally. Respondents were also asked to indicate what gives them hope these days. Here responses varied from a focus on family and children to those who had a broadly stoic outlook. Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 04 Introductions / What’s on your radar? “The most important issue facing my “The most important issue facing my “The most important issue facing my local community is crime. Crime has local community is abuse of alcohol local community is youth reached a peak of all times. Gender and drugs and this leads to high level of unemployment, drugs and alcohol based violence and murders being the crime and violence that [South Africa abuse. The most important issue facing leading criminal offences amongst Police Service] is struggling to deal with South Africa is unemployment, crime other offences. on their own.” and corruption from our leaders. For the The most important issue facing South Male, aged 51-60 international community it is Covid, Africa is corruption. Corruption has “People generally are so gullible to mis- terrible politics and failing economies as hindered our beautiful country from information and with social media being a result of Covid.” being at a better position economically. so rampant some struggle to know Female, aged 31-40 The most important issue facing the what is truth or not and also totally “What gives me hope is the fact that I international community is the corona over-react to everything. They have lost have this day to make a small change virus.” their power of common sense and to improve my life as well as my family's Female, aged 18-30 reason.” life.” Female, aged 61-70 Male, aged 18-30 Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 05 Childhood - Overview While covering an enormously broad topic, the objective of this activity was quite specific: to ask respondents to approach discourse around children on the move as a fundamental issue of what one should expect from childhood. We asked them for their opinions on the basic expectations that should be met in childhood before examining further how South Africa should treat children who were displaced, to make their childhood more fulfilling. Overall, the child-centred approach evoked empathy, although some respondents made reference to existing failings that negatively affect South African Photo courtesy of Terre des Hommes children. Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 06 Childhood – Quotes “Children have a right to healthy food, a home, a safe “I think that some communities in South Africa have been environment, protection from abuse and sanitation. They need tolerant and compassionate towards newly arrived children. The a proper education and should have access to it. Education is of more tolerant would be the upper and middle class. The less utmost importance so that a child can grow skills later on in life privileged South Africans are less tolerant and compassionate to contribute toward growing the economy. Losing skilled towards newly arrived children. children causes a negative impact in SA. Other countries are South Africa is a land with many opportunities and possibilities, benefitting from the skills of our own children. so it is indeed a good place for a child from abroad to achieve South Africa should readjust its infrastructure to make sure that his or her potential. More economic security for the lower our skills are not lost. Our children who have graduated and income households will most definitely foster greater tolerance qualified should be given opportunities for a good, well-paying to migrants. The lower income groups tend to misdirect their job so that they remain in SA. Children arriving here should not frustrations so helping them economically will definitely yield be treated any differently from SA children in so far as being greater tolerance.” given opportunities are concerned, as long as they are all Female, aged 18-30 treated fairly.” Female, aged 61-70 Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 07 Childhood – Quotes “As South Africans we can be more “Every child has the right to be safe, to “The impact of a child having to move tolerant given the current situation we be raised in a loving home and to to another country can vary from child currently face as the whole world is education. Those in my opinion are the to child. However, it could have a going through the same situation. And cornerstone to a successful childhood. negative impact as the child will be shift away from being xenophobic, The impact on a child moving to faced with a whole new life , everything which sadly most south Africans are. another country could be a culture will be different , from the people to the In my honest opinion, [efforts to address change if his new country is very systems in the country. South Africa xenophobia] need to start from a different to his home country. I think could possibly make it easier by grassroots level. Unfortunately, children South Africa as a country has alot on its providing extra support to children learn these traits from their parents. So, agenda, it is the duty of that child's coming from other countries.” the community should be reinforcing parents to make sure that that child is Male, aged 18-30 this from grassroots level. Bear in mind put at ease with their change in these are also cultural misconceptions environment.” and vary throughout race groups in Female, aged 31-40 South Africa.” Male, aged 31-40 Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 08 Sport – Overview Sticking with the more abstract approach to day 1, this activity called upon respondents to be creative and constructive in their approach to helping displaced children integrate in their community. Respondents were given a scenario in which they were coaching a sports team (or teaching another craft). We challenged them to outline how they would manage the arrival of new players from another country. While the activity was conducted through a particular prism, it generated valuable insights in terms of positive messaging and broader community application of the team ethos and communication necessary to function in sport. Photo courtesy of Terre des Hommes Testing New Narratives About Children & Migration: South Africa – November 2020 09 Sport – Quotes “I am currently coaching boxing in the community of “As I'm not very geared toward sport, I would rather focus on Khayelitsha. We were once joined by a team from Germany. At something like an Arts & Crafts Club. Pictures and sculptures first it was a bit difficult to get the team to 'gel', since one team speak volumes without any words. Children express themselves comes from a first world country and has to integrate with a on a whole "other" level through art and creative endeavour. team from an African township. They can also work in collaboration with other children, thus I would tell the local kids that all of them are working towards communicate in a world wide language through their hands and perfecting they're craft, it is easier to become better at eyes.