Abstract
This chapter explores the ways migration could be considered a learning experience. It draws on the personal narratives of two Somali migrants who lived in Malta. The perspectives of those who have left their native land to create a home elsewhere demonstrate that migration offers possibilities of learning about life and learning from life. The migrants’ fragmentary personal accounts show that although they have benefited from formal schooling and academic studies, these did not seem to be sufficient to face the obstacles they encountered as migrants. The two migrants have also gained insights and drawn from their inner strength, resilience, courage and stamina to discover not only a new homeland but also a new self. This is because the risks entailed in moving to another country and pursue new opportunities generate new self awareness. This has implications for the citizens of the host country, who also grapple with emerging realities and struggle to embrace multicultural principles. A number of suggestions are put forward, with reference to educational strategies aimed at fostering and disseminating such principles.
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Notes
- 1.
Malta is a small country in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a population of 400,000 people and is one of the countries in the European Union, which is mostly affected by African migration. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
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Cassar, J. (2012). Living in Different Worlds and Learning All About It: Migration Narratives in Perspective. In: Bekerman, Z., Geisen, T. (eds) International Handbook of Migration, Minorities and Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1466-3_11
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