A qualitative study into the reintegration of vulnerable migrant children and families after return to Kosovo: Findings from a follow-up

Vulnerable children’s experiences after (forced) return are understudied. Compared with the situation of adults, child-specific safeguards are necessary for their reintegration. The study aims to gain insight into the reintegration and support experiences of vulnerable returnee children after a short and medium term of return in Kosovo. It consists of descriptive case studies of the reintegration experiences of 13 children in nine families, who were part of an earlier support project and were interviewed three years later. All families still faced economic or housing problems after longer period of return. Some families faced some more stability in living conditions. About half of the children had multiple reintegration-related difficulties (i.e., health problems, no connection with Kosovo, safety issues, poor well-being of parents, school drop-out, living isolated, difficult contacts with peers or society). The small-scale support that the children had received was not sufficient to alleviate their problems. A children's rights view could help identify the necessary support and care for returnee children, to enhance their sustainable reintegration and quality of life.