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    Published: 2026-06-06
    Vol. 47 No. 1 (2026)

    Entering Adulthood after Forced Migration: A Focus Group Study of Ukrainian Refugee Youth in Olsztyn and Kraków

    Elżbieta Subocz Profil ORCID autora Elżbieta Subocz , Magdalena Sternicka-Kowalska Profil ORCID autora Magdalena Sternicka-Kowalska
    Seminare
    Section: Articles
    DOI https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.1885

    Abstract

    This pilot qualitative study examines how Ukrainian refugee youth navigate the transition to adulthood in Poland after forced displacement caused by the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It focuses on education, employment, housing, and interpersonal relationships and explores differences between the experiences reported in Olsztyn and Kraków. Data were collected in 2024 through two focus group interviews with 22 purposively selected participants aged 16–19, including 12 participants in Olsztyn and 10 in Kraków. Polish-language proficiency emerged as the principal barrier to educational participation and social integration in both groups. Participants in Olsztyn more often described survival-oriented strategies and early labour market participation, whereas participants in Kraków placed greater emphasis on education, personal development, and extracurricular activities. Across both groups, participants reported employers’ reluctance to hire minors, a mismatch between their qualifications and available jobs, high housing costs, and barriers in the rental market. Most maintained relationships with other Ukrainians, and many also had Polish friends; however, perceived differences in attitudes towards adulthood constrained closer peer relationships. Nationality-based discrimination was reported only sporadically. Given the pilot design and the inclusion of one focus group in each city, the observed differences should be treated as exploratory rather than representative. The findings highlight the need for language support, accessible educational opportunities, housing assistance, and age-sensitive labour market measures for Ukrainian refugee youth in Poland.

    Keywords:

    Ukrainian refugee youth, forced migration, transition to adulthood, educational integration, labour market integration, housing insecurity, social integration

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    Citation rules

    Subocz, E., & Sternicka-Kowalska, M. (2026). Entering Adulthood after Forced Migration: A Focus Group Study of Ukrainian Refugee Youth in Olsztyn and Kraków. Seminare, 47(1). https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.1885

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