Stories of Belonging: Ukrainian immigrant children’s experiences of Portugal

This article is situated within the literature examining the experiences of inclusion and exclusion by immigrant pupils in relation to the educational and social environment in the receiving country. It draws on data from a small, exploratory qualitative research study conducted in a supplementary school context in Portugal to explore how Ukrainian immigrant children (aged 12-16) negotiate their sense of belonging in Portugal. Specifically, the ways in which the younger immigrants relate to and construct the locations as 'home', i.e. a country of origin, and a 'host' country, i.e. Portugal, are considered; which resources they draw on in the process of their identity formation. There is a particular focus on how Ukrainian children experience in-/exclusion and the relationships in the mainstream Portuguese school.