Can Mobile Phones Enhance Refugees' Integration?

The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of mobile phones in the integration of refugees. Taking into account the heterogeneity of refugee populations in South Africa, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 refugees and Thematic Analysis was used for data analysis. The study found that mobile phones play an important role in the development, maintenance and use of social capital, the impact of social capital on social integration and directly on social integration. Mobile phones, both through the social networks of social capital and directly, contribute to a number of the expected outcomes of social and economic participation but fewer of the expected outcomes of political participation. It is in the latter aspect,that the actions of authorities and agencies together with discrimination reduce the influence of mobile phones. It is shown that refugee integration is a process which requires mutual adjustment and participation. This study has been able to throw light on the role played by mobile phones in enhancing the integration of refugees into the mainstream community.