Childhood, Education and Transnational Migration Strategies through Micro-Narratives by Bangladeshi Pupils in Florence (Italy)

Abstract

The protagonists of the present article are Florence-based Bangladeshi children who face the challenges of transnationality along with their families. In light of this condition, their destiny is linked to a gamut of possible solutions: emigrating, staying, re-emigrating, or even going back to Bangladesh. These very options frame the purposes of the article, namely exploring: (a) the perceptions and feelings experienced by Bangladeshi children in relation to migration strategies adopted by their parents, and (b) the implications that transnational mobility may have for their education. To achieve these goals, the paper builds upon the results of a qualitative study, largely supported by micro-narratives gathered during fieldwork conducted with Bangladeshi pupils attending Italian schools in Florence.