Social Sustainable Education in a Refugee Camp

Marit Heldal, Trond Løge Hagen, Ingvild Olsen Olaussen and Gry Mette D. Haugen
Additional contact information
Marit Heldal: Department of Pedagogy, Queen Maud University-College of Early Childhood Education, 7044 Trondheim, Norway
Trond Løge Hagen: Department of Physical Education, Queen Maud University-College of Early Childhood Education, 7044 Trondheim, Norway
Ingvild Olsen Olaussen: Department of Drama, Queen Maud University-College of Early Childhood Education, 7044 Trondheim, Norway
Gry Mette D. Haugen: Department of Social Studies, Queen Maud University-College of Early Childhood Education, 7044 Trondheim, Norway

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: The main objective of this article is to discuss how an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institution in a refugee camp can promote social sustainable education. By giving empirical examples of innovative pedagogical ideas and practices inside a Greek ECEC institution, this article argues that concepts of formation are ways to promote social sustainable education. The article draws on data from an ECEC institution in which both the children living in a refugee camp and Greek children are located together. With nature as a neutral cultural mediator, serving as a pedagogical framework, children can make new experiences based on participation, equality and mutual respect. Data were produced through field observations, semi-structured interviews and one group interview from March 2019 until September 2019. The empirical data reveal three dimensions that we suggest work as markers for social sustainable pedagogical practice: the importance of nature and play as a facilitator for children’s activities; the importance of participation and equality; and the importance of commitment to the community. The findings are discussed in relation with theoretical concepts of formation, with a particular focus on children as active agents and the value of experiences, and the importance of highly qualified educators.

Keywords: social sustainability; ECEC institution; nature; child refugee/migrant children; children’s participation; play; experiences; formation; reflective pedagogical practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/3925/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/3925/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3925-:d:528739

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().