Keeping in touch (pg 205-206)

You will find out how communications technology builds international communities, such as migrant and diaspora communities

When migrants leave their home country, many keep in touch with friends + family to feel connected with their culture.

Communications tech helps them to keep in touch more easily, more quickly and on a more regular basis (e.g messaging)

What is meant by the term ‘diaspora’?

Large number of people from the same country that have since moved out to places all over the world

It comes from the Greek word meaning ‘to scatter about’ and it is used to describe any large migration of people (e.g migrants/refugees), language or culture

Diaspora populations play an important role in contributing to their host country’s economy, but also to their home country. How?

Why are diaspora communities important in the host country?

Sending home remittances

• By forming a community, they are able to maintain a sense of their cultural identity. They can speak their language together; cook and eat traditional dishes and share cultural experiences such as celebrations or festivals

• The strength of diaspora communities also helps new arrivals. Meeting people from a similar background can help others to settle into their new environment as they have a common culture

  • However, many younger generations now lack fluency in their language where their parents are from as they adopt the host language as their main language

  • A new dual identity has formed

Ancestry

A family lineage or descent

How have mobile phones/technology helped migrants?

• During the pandemic, lockdown was made possible and bearable to migrants

  • can communicate with family

  • can work (e.g teachers)

  • can translate (language) government messages

• Language translation

• Finding out about local events to meet new people — integration

• Navigation (e.g Google Maps allows migrants to familiarise with new environment)
  Support from community centres and programmes (e.g if they need help accessing resources)

• Educational, health and economic advice and support