"Living their best life": PhotoVoice insights on well-being, inclusion, and access to public spaces among adolescent refugee girls in urban resettlement.

Abstract

Purpose: Newcomer adolescent girls from the Middle East and North Africa region face intersectional challenges and opportunities upon resettlement. This study employs PhotoVoice participatory research methodology to explore perspectives on well-being and belonging shared by six students who resettled to Chicago from Iraq and Syria.

Methods: Two programme sessions consisted of participants reflecting on their photographic responses to four prompts in focus group discussions. The subsequent four sessions included qualitative analysis skill building, participant-led generation of thematic codes and diagrams using their data, and the creation of action plan posters to share back with the community. The research team then analysed all data using a grounded theory approach with constant comparative analysis.

Results: Four major themes emerged: 1) public spaces served as a vehicle for exploring well-being and belonging; 2) intersectional inclusion in public spaces was deemed a vital priority; 3) schools held an important role in facilitating belonging and access to public spaces; and 4) language was a critical barrier and facilitator to access and inclusion.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for holistic approaches to support refugee youth in urban contexts and emphasize the role of schools in facilitating inclusive access to public spaces to strengthen newcomer students' well-being and belonging.