Using a career guidance intervention to promote the psychosocial adjustment of Somali youth refugees in Malaysia

Abstract

It is widely perceived that, refugees are often affected by serious and severe psychosocial measures problems, which profoundly requires a special care and remedial or curative approach. The present study addresses this issue, from the Somali youth refugee’s perception on the experience of pre and post sojourn to Malaysia. It also addresses challenges associated with their interpersonal relationships and the ways to cope with adjustment challenges. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 Somali youth refugees which followed by six sessions of focus group discussion. A phenomelogical technique was employed to interview data interpretation as well as the observation, which identify issues related to the experience of seeking asylum in Malaysia. Furthermore, legal and structural challenges, attitudinal challenges, social and interpersonal challenges and personal challenges were also analysed. Participants passionately expressed depression, vulnerability, dependency and lack of inventiveness in addressing the challenges. Interestingly, the phenomelogical technique using action research methodology enables the researcher to conduct a career guidance and intervention program, which indicates the usefulness of developmental approach as an ultimate option to the conventional curative and remedial approaches in addressing refugee psychosocial problems. The study presented a career guidance model for Somali youth refugees in Malaysia (SYRM). According to the model, the intervention is a combination of self-efficacy enhancement (psycho-emotional support) and upholding self-initiative (career guidance and self-reliance project). Findings of the study indicate that, motivation that followed by an action plan yields a better response to the psychosocial and adjustment problems faced by Somali youth refugees in Malaysia.