CHILD MIGRATION – POST WW2 Year 5/6 MISS BLACK HISTORY

W.A.L.T: We are learning: - The term displaced persons by reflecting on the physical strains, feelings, and emotions associated with child migration - The conflicts and consequences of child migration

NEW KEY TERMS Displaced persons: a person who is forced to leave their home country because of war or persecution; a refugee. Forced migration: when people are coerced to move away from their home or home region, often in a violent manner

Child migrants were sent from Britain over approximately 100 years from the 1860’s to the 1960’s. Many of these children had lost parents during wars (orphans) They were sent alone over vast oceans to make a new, fresh start whilst helping to populate Australia. They were promised a happy future, the anxiety and fear that accompanied them was inevitable. Such child migrants are known as forced migrants or displaced persons. CHILD MIGRATION

Think, Pair, Share How would you feel being sent on a ship, to a foreign country, at the age of 10 without your family? What are the faces of the children in the photographs telling us? Is there ever a “good” or “proper” time for child migration in this sense? Why or why not?

CONFLICTS BENEFITS Children and parents were deceived about the process Children forced into hard labour Children lost their real identities Experience of loss from being removed from their families Empty promises Abuse Way to increase the population of Australia Cheaper to send children to Australia than to care for them on British soil At the time they were considered “good white stock” Child-labour was little cost to the Government

TASK: Choose an image of child immigrants from the selection Glue into your history book Answer the following questions in relation to the image: What does the image show? Where do you think these children are from? Is this a picture from recent times, or from the past? What emotions/feelings/fears/concerns do you think the child migrant(s) in the photo have? Answer in full sentences in paragraph form.

YEAR 5/6 HISTORY MISS BLACK CHILD MIGRATION TODAY YEAR 5/6 HISTORY MISS BLACK

Syrian Civil War Began 15 March 2011 Killed almost half a million Syrians Injured more than a million Displaced over 12 million – just about half of the country's population before war 6.5 million of these displaced individuals are still in Syria.  Internally displaced persons tend to be especially vulnerable, especially if they are still in areas of conflict.

What challenges do you think these refugees face What challenges do you think these refugees face? How does it differ from post war migrants? HINT: What is the difference between a refugee and a regular migrant?

This causes children to wonder “When can I go home?” PTSD in children Loss of hope. The war has gone on for 7 years now with no end in sight. Many refugees fear they will never be able to return to their home. This causes children to wonder “When can I go home?” PTSD in children Lack of education – 50% of refugees have a primary education. Global average is 90% Integration – “Where do I belong?” “Where is my family?” – over 100,000 child refugees from Syria have made the journey to another country to seek refuge alone. Imagine you are nine years old, coming to a completely new country, possibly one where you don’t know anyone, or how to speak the language. Daunting isn’t it? Well, this is the scary reality for millions of refugee children who find themselves in a new country – isolated and alone. In order for children to feel included in their new home, schools and communities should incorporate programmes that foster harmony between children from different backgrounds and help them learn about each other’s cultures. Small steps such as these will prevent societal exclusion and help make the transition to a new life easier. Increased risk of child trafficking and abuse

Do you agree with the term: “The Child, The Best Migrant” Do you agree with the term: “The Child, The Best Migrant”? Write down your arguments for or against this statement