STRATEGY
Beyond Borders
COURSE PROJECT
Creating a mentorship program to help address the challenges that are faced by undocumented immigrant children
MY ROLE
Within a team of four, I along with them conducted primary research, secondary research, ideation, trends and stakeholder analysis, design strategy. I also took the lead on developing training manual and proposed mobile solution.
INSTRUCTOR
Nathan Shedroff
DURATION
Jan'23 - Apr '23
DELIVERABLES
Research Insights
Trends Analysis
Stakeholder mapping
Design Strategy
UX Flows
Prototypes
TEAM
Angela Beccera
Apeksha Jain
Tanvi Jain
How might we empower and support kids of undocumented immigrants to enhance their childhood experience?
Brief
Immigration in the United States is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been a subject of debate and contention for many years.
Design Process
Design Process
To gain a deeper understanding of the system, we formulated our design process as we progressed through the project, continually iterating and reiterating based on our evolving understanding.
To comprehend the U.S. immigration system, we examined both documented and undocumented immigrants. Focusing on the latter, given their additional challenges, allowed us to create more impactful solutions for undocumented immigrant.
Understanding the immigration system
Out of all the stakeholders for undocumented immigrants, these are the most influential ones
Analysing Trends
The top trends that we found that impact undocumented immigrants are:
Interview insights
Interview insights
To get a more grounded understanding, we interviewed 12 people that are parts of the immigration system. They were attorneys, educators, DACA recipients, NGO founders and undocumented residents.
To get a more grounded understanding, we interviewed 12 people that are parts of the immigration system. They were attorneys, educators, DACA recipients, NGO founders and undocumented residents.
Some key insights were:
- There was this sense of distrust and fear of being caught.
- The children of undocumented immigrants had to grow up quickly in order to support their parents.
This is when we decided to narrow our scope to undocumented youth.
Twitter insights
On Twitter there are a ton of tweets from children of undocumented immigrants. Some common threads talked about :
Language barriers
Limited access to education
Fear of deportation
Young kids taking care of their siblings
Feeling isolated, alone
Parents being deported.
Image source: unsplash
Why are parents risking their and their children’s lives?
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Better job opportunities
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Running away from brutal violence and gangs
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Corrupt governments
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In search for a better life
Why should we as a society care about undocumented youth?
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The discrimination, isolation and fear that they go through should not be experienced by any child in our society.
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Our society should value their rights, mental health needs and wellbeing as it benefits all of us in the long-term.
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They should be given the opportunity to thrive and succeed regardless of their documentation status.
Image source: unsplash
Current Experience Waveline
In the current experience, an undocumented child has a tough time adjusting to their new life. In the first part you see the child struggle in school and not be given the attention needed to succeed. In the second half you also see the child having a difficult time translating for their dad at the DMV.
The child feels alone and the additional adult responsibilities only makes them feel more overwhelmed with this transition to the US.
Proposed Strategy
We came to the conclusion that a mentorship program had the greatest potential to help these children. The main components of this strategy are:
Potential Experience Waveline
In the ideal waveline, you can see improvements in the child’s emotional state. When the child is struggling in school, the teacher recommends to the parent about this mentorship program. The child begins to open up and even mentions to the mentor that they will be going with their parent to the DMV. The mentor is able to confirm that the parent can indeed get a drivers license, which avoids the previous obstacles in the current experience.
The child ends up feeling supported and their confidence has increased with this new connection and mentorship.
Trailblazer Mentorship Program
Dare to explore.
Dare to dream.
So what exactly is this mentorship program?
This program will connect these children with adult mentors who can serve as positive role models, offer guidance and resources, and help them navigate the various obstacles they may encounter here in the US.
Parents will know who the mentors are, but the children will be the prominent drivers in this system. The parents will know when their children will meet with the mentors, and they will always have the option to contact them.
The child is the first person in their family or community to pursue education in the US as an undocumented immigrant.
Age: 8-14 years old
Location: In or near San Francisco
Challenges
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Navigating the complex legal landscape, financial constraints, and cultural or social barriers.
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Pressure of assisting their parents at a very early age
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A sense of not belonging or feeling disconnected from their community
The Trailblazer kid
The Resilient Mentor
The mentor is currently or was formerly undocumented and would love to give back to their community.
Age: 21 - 45 years old
Location: In or near San Francisco
What they offer
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Play a crucial role in providing guidance, support, and advocacy to help the mentee overcome the challenges they face.
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Can offer anecdotes based on their own personal experience
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Valuable skills and coping mechanisms that can be shared with their mentees.
Awareness Campaign
Word of Mouth
The teacher can provide the parent with a brochure or other informational materials about the program, as well as contact information for the program coordinator.
The teacher may also be able to provide insights into how the program could benefit their child based on their observations in the classroom.
Awareness Campaign for kids
Posters near schools and grocery stores
Awareness Campaign for Mentors
Street Advertisements, word of mouth
Matchmaking Strategy
Becoming a mentor
1. Inquire & Apply
The mentor finds the program through an advertisement and call to get more info.
4. Match with your kid
Mentor and kids are matched based on similar traits and needs.
2. Backgroud checks
After applying, mentor undergoes background checks to ensure a safe environment for the kids.
5. Meet your match
Mentor and kids finally meet in person!
3. Interviewing
Mentor is interviewed so the program coordinater can better understand who they are so they can be paired up with mentees.
6. Advisor support
Mentors can reach out to advisors to get additional support for mentee(s)
How are mentors and mentees matched?
Training Manual
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The training manual will provide a general introduction to the program and its purpose, outlining the goals and objectives.
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It will provide information on the target population, which in this case are undocumented immigrant children, and the unique challenges they face.
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It will also describe the structure of the mentor-mentee program, including the role of the mentor, the responsibilities of the mentee, and the expected outcomes of the program.
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The training manual will provide a general introduction to the program and its purpose, outlining the goals and objectives.
-
It will provide information on the target population, which in this case are undocumented immigrant children, and the unique challenges they face.
-
It will also describe the structure of the mentor-mentee program, including the role of the mentor, the responsibilities of the mentee, and the expected outcomes of the program.
Trailblazer App
The Trail app is a platform where mentors can schedule meetups with the kids and also reach out to specialists for additional help.
Hangout details
Quickly glance at upcoming hangouts and suggested activities for the future
Scheduling
Seamlessly schedule hangouts with your mentees
Connect with your mentees
Easily message mentees in between sessions
Advisor Support
Conveniently reach out to advisors when needed
Children's Platform (a concept)
Step into a penguin world where immigrant children find solace.
Create your avatar, embark on an adventure blending fun and learning. Navigate challenges, play games, and explore vibrant environments teaching immigration, diversity, and resilience.
Penguin Haven provides a safe space for young minds, empowering them with knowledge and fostering belonging. Join us on this remarkable journey of courage and discovery!
Impact Assessment
Learnings
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We all underestimated the complexity of the immigration system.
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Enacting policy changes in the current political climate would be extremely difficult.
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It is the children who are most impacted by the system, and yet have all this pressure to succeed.
Next Steps
Research Expansion and Strategy Testing
In order to advance our research and gain a deeper understanding of our target audience, we sought to explore the effectiveness of our current strategy by testing it with relevant individuals.
Understanding Mentor Motivations
We want to comprehend the motivations of mentors who aspire to make a positive impact in the lives of these children.
Investigating Children's Challenges and Context
We aim to gain insights into the challenges faced by children and the context in which they live. This involves understanding the resources and technologies available to them.