Between strength and stress Immigrant youngsters in an urban neighbourhood in The Hague dr. Vincent Smit 13 September

The Hague: a metropolitan area Third city of the Netherlands Center of government International institutions multi-ethnic population Historically gap between classes Lack of connections 2

tasks and targets International competition City of law, peace and justice Quality of life in the city 3

Local: White Paper 2011 about integration “different past, one future” – Encourage participation – Knowlegde of Dutch – Norms and values 4

Between assimilation and multiculturalism Triple messages in a mix Different views on government Pressure on immigrants 5

The social-economic and social- cultural agenda Focus on social-cultural integration A social-economic agenda and discrimination hardly mentioned 6

Identity : multiple and dynamic Dominance of “culturalism” Reality: dynamic identities 7

The pressure to integrate Focus on civic integration: focus on immigrants Perspective of “us vs. them” Reality is heterogenity 8

Question Match between formal integration policy and the life of urban youngsters? 9

Youngsters in the multi-ethnic neighourbood the Schilderswijk inhabitants, young 95 nationalities Many households with an income at a minimumlevel 10

Not between, but with two cultures Most young people find their way Between Home, Street and School Composing one’s own cultural repertoire 11

Being ambitious in a risky environment The future Neighbourhood is familiar Environment with risks: unsafety, stress, tensions at home 12

Boys have plenty of time, girls are stressed for time Boys hang on the street, risks of failure Girls: severe social control, expected to take care of household and family 13

Home is not the school Parents know little about school Young people seek support within the own circle of friends 14

tasks Support in the complex life: buddies, confidentials Welfare: better match between supply and demand Bridges between different lifeworlds 15

In the mean time: many projects in the neighbourhood “ Broad primary schools” “ 12+ facility” Visiting multiproblemfamilies Civic integration Health and sport Etc. 16

Political priorities Urban policy of integration doesn’t match with every daylife in Schilderswijk Growing up in a risky environment in need for another perspective – Include the social-economic dimension – Reciprocity – New coalition between government – professionals – parents – youngsters 17

Futher on using and stimulating the strength of youngsters in immigrant families? mitigating the stress in the integration proces: diminishing the gap between formal policy and the real life of youngsters in immigrant families 18