Narratives from Jenin Refugee Camp: Children as extreme defence against the disintegration of family and community. Guido Veronese, Mahmud Said, Marco Castiglioni. International Journal of Human Sciences. Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Year: 2010
Abstract
This
paper aims to explore practices that create serious risks to the physical and psychological
health of Palestinian children. The typical stories of three children
interviewed at Jenin refugee camp are subjected to content analysis. This
analysis also extends to the micro and macro social developmental context of
these children (which they share with the entire child population of the camp).
Key themes emerging from the analysis include the need to “redeem” grandparents
and parents (depressed, preoccupied, without hope), intolerance of imprisonment
and being coerced into confined spaces (which are invaded on a daily basis),
the need for space to play in, the acceleration, through violence, towards adulthood.
The motivations leading to dangerous practices and risk and protective factors
are discussed.
Keywords
Palestinian
children- Refugee Camp – military violence- risk behaviours.