Enhancing Sense of Belonging - Key Findings from Studies
In Aotearoa New Zealand, Professor Linda Mitchell, an expert in education at the University of Waikato, is spearheading a significant research project aimed at strengthening the sense of belonging for immigrant and refugee children in early childhood education. The project, which has been ongoing for two years, is supported by the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative Fund and the Marsden Fund Council, both funded by the government.
The project, yet to reveal specific resources and outcomes in detail, is part of a broader international framework that emphasizes the importance of free, quality early childhood education for all children, as outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4.2) and international child rights frameworks.
Professor Mitchell's work focuses on developing culturally responsive early childhood education curricula and teaching practices that enhance the sense of belonging for immigrant and refugee children. This includes providing professional development resources for early childhood educators to effectively address the needs of diverse learners, collaborating with communities to create inclusive environments that validate the languages and cultures of refugee and immigrant families, and generating evidence of positive social and educational outcomes for children through strengthened belonging and equitable access.
The project involves partnerships with educators from four early childhood centres, including Crawshaw Kindergarten and Hillcrest Kindergarten, as well as Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten and Iqra Educare. The Waikato Kindergarten Association is also part of this collaborative effort.
The project is not just about integrating immigrant and refugee children into New Zealand society, but rather a two-way process that encourages cultural exchange. It aims to strengthen both the sense of belonging in New Zealand and the sense of connection to homelands for these children and their families.
The project's goal is to provide a basis for feeling good about oneself and being able to participate in society, fostering a sense of belonging that is crucial for these children's lifelong developmental outcomes. While specific details about the project's resources and outcomes are not yet publicly available, consulting the University of Waikato’s Education department website or contacting Professor Mitchell directly would provide more information.
The research project was published by Referencing Hub media, highlighting its importance in advancing equitable, culturally inclusive early childhood education for immigrant and refugee children in Aotearoa New Zealand. The project underscores Aotearoa New Zealand's aspiration to be a bicultural society, where the unique cultural knowledge and understanding that refugee and immigrant families bring to early childhood centres are valued and respected.
This research project, led by Professor Linda Mitchell, falls under the umbrella of education and self-development, as it focuses on strengthening the sense of belonging for immigrant and refugee children in early childhood education. The project, in collaboration with various educators and kindergartens, aims to provide equitable, culturally inclusive early childhood education that values and respects the unique cultural knowledge and understanding of refugee and immigrant families.
