Moving on up: what factors help young asylum seekers to find success in their lives - Dissertation Example

The paper tells that though young asylum seekers arriving in UK, hail from different countries and cultures, there is a common thread to their experience that is derived from the “stigmatisation” that they face in the new society they enter. Another factor that unites the asylum seekers in UK has been that “Most asylum seekers in Britain are from countries that are in conflict”. As far as the magnitude of the issue of asylum seekers is concerned, it has to be kept in mind that “The United Kingdom ranks ninth in Europe in terms of asylum applications per head of population”.

It is estimated by the Home Office that at present there are “around 6000 unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people in the UK. One common problem faced by all these children is the mental trauma caused by “separation and loss”. In the decade of 1990s alone, around 3,35000 refugees arrived in UK “from about 35 countries”. It is also revealed that “Most asylum seekers in Britain are single men, under the age of 40, although worldwide most refugees are women”. This statistics show that most of the asylum seekers in UK are young males or young children.

There is a host of problems faced by young asylum seekers in their destination country, which eventually diminish the scope of success in their lives. Though the laws of UK have in them, provisions for giving employment to the asylum seekers and refugees who arrive, there are many socio-economic and cultural problems faced by the young asylum seekers. . It is estimated by the Home Office that at present there are “around 6000 unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people in the UK (Child Bereavement Network and National Children’s Bureau, c2008, p.1). One common problem faced by all these children is the mental trauma caused by “separation and loss” (Kohli, 2002, 31).

In the decade of 1990s alone, around 3,35000 refugees arrived in UK “from about 35 countries” (Summerfield, 2001, p.161). It is also revealed that “Most asylum seekers in Britain are single men, under the age of 40, although worldwide most refugees are women” (Burnett and Peel, 2001, p.485). This statistics show that most of the asylum seekers in UK are young males or young children. There is a host of problems faced by young asylum seekers in their destination country, which eventually diminish the scope of success in their lives (Edwards, 2006).

Though the laws of UK have in them, provisions for giving employment to the asylum seekers and refugees who arrive, there are many socio-economic and cultural problems faced by the young asylum seekers (Edwards, 2006). Basically, the success of young asylum seekers in life depends on how they are able to anchor their lives in the society as native people do, learn to use the language of the natives, and also get themselves “integrat”ed into the native society (Barry, n.d., p.167). This process is not very easy because a majority of asylum seekers would be under immense mental stress and trauma just because “Many young asylum seekers and refugees have experienced the death of family members or friends, often in traumatic circumstances” (Child Bereavement Network and National Children’s Bureau, c2008, p.1).