Social integration of Congolese refugees in a town in Southern Norway

Abstract

Social integration of refugees is a concept that connotes ideas of enjoying the opportunities, rights and services available to the citizens of the refugees’ new community. This thesis examines the problems and process of social integration of Congolese refugees in one of the southern towns of Norway. This research mainly aimed at finding out whether Congolese refugees are socially well-integrated; and establishing factors that contribute to their integration or lack of it. Based on the expression of social integration theories, this research has used qualitative methods through interviews and document analysis. Results have shown that some Congolese refugees are socially integrated in the Norwegian community. Findings indicate that the mastery of the Norwegian language and the ability to establish social network with Norwegians citizens are the momentous factor to refugees’ integration. This study suggest that the service in charge of refugee should develop a mechanism to ensure that refugees are given enough psychological assistance due to the fact that a good number of them have experienced such serious traumatic situations that financial and/or material assistance alone do not suffice for them to feel socially integrated in this new community.