Communicative Ecologies of Displaced Youth: Ways of Connecting in Protracted Situations of Encampment

Abstract

This article offers an exploration of the communicative ecologies of young people in protracted situations of encampment. Findings from research conducted in Kakuma refugee camp (Kenya) and Za’atari refugee camp (Jordan) are introduced with the aim of building a picture of the information and communication structures that exist within young people’s lives in the camps. Understanding existing communication platforms and networks adopted by the youth in camp settings is crucial for humanitarian agencies operating in contexts of protracted displacement. Such understanding can facilitate the design of more effective and targeted communication interventions that not only address humanitarian needs but also promote community development and enhance a sense of belonging among the youth. The study conducted is based on an in-depth qualitative exploration that adopted the methods of semi-structured interviews, participatory workshops, and ethnographic interviews, which were rolled out in the two camps. Data collected has been analyzed in the light of the communicative ecology framework, which distinguishes the technological, social, and discoursive dimensions in the lives of young refugees in camps. Ultimately, this article argues for the importance of understanding young people’s communication practices from an ecology perspective, in order for humanitarian agencies to engage more purposefully in strengthening community bonds among the youth through the use of communication. This paper also adds to the literature on communicative ecology, by introducing this framework to a new, relatively unexplored context such as that of refugee camps.