Identity Issues Among Children and Youth

The complexities of identity among the children and youth of the Sudanese asylum seeker community in Israel stem from the intersection of their Sudanese heritage and the pervasive Israeli cultural milieu. These young people grapple with a duality that shapes their sense of self and belonging in profound ways.

For children born to Sudanese parents in Israel, the concept of home is often ambiguous. While they speak Hebrew fluently, participate in Israeli customs, and build relationships within their local communities, they simultaneously hold a status that marks them as outsiders. This legal indeterminacy hangs over them, casting a shadow of impermanence on their day-to-day lives and injecting a persistent uncertainty into their formative years.

As they assimilate into the Israeli way of life, these children and youth are simultaneously rooted in a family unit that reveres Sudanese traditions. The resultant cultural schism within families can create communication challenges, as children may struggle to fully articulate their experiences in their parents’ mother tongue or engage with Sudanese customs that feel foreign compared to their Israeli upbringing.

The dichotomy doesn’t end there; the younger generation’s internalization of Israeli norms sometimes clashes with the Sudanese values upheld by their elders, leading to a disconnect that can strain family dynamics. This rift may become more pronounced as children age and their identities evolve, especially against the backdrop of an unresolved legal status in Israel.

The journey to reconcile these differing cultural identities and expectations is complicated by the political landscape concerning refugees and asylum seekers, adding another layer to the identity crisis these youths face. Their self-perception and aspirations are, to some extent, shaped by the ongoing societal debate about their place in Israel.