Transnational Migration

1. Introduction
1.1. Introduction to Thesis
The developing, and often controversial, discourse regarding the phenomenon of migration and human mobility has led to considerable academic research and analysis in transnational studies, particularly in the last 15 years.

Transnational migration is not a new phenomenon (Levitt & Jaworsky 2007. What is new, however, are the factors which impact on transnational migration, inter alia, greater access to transportation and cheaper more effective methods of communication, which has resulted in extensive transnational movement and enabled migrants to maintain contact with their homeland (Levitt 2004, Glick-Schiller 2005:239).

In particular, research has shown that migrants utilise a number of methods

The focus of this study is located at this intersection.

The body of research on transnational migration and religion illustrates the varied, yet significant ways in which religion plays a role in their transnational lives. Significantly, Levitt and Jaworsky (2007) have explored the impact of so-called ‘i‘inherited religion’’ on the lives of children of migrants and have concluded the impact of this is that the ‘‘inherited religion’ can be regarded as the ‘“primary source of identity” ’” for these children.

Increasingly, scholars and psychologists have begun to recognise that the spiritual development of children is as necessary for a child’s wellbeing as are their personal, physical, intellectual, social and emotional development (Grajczonek 2011:3). Furthermore, there is an emerging consensus amongst scholars that spirituality may be a universal developmental process, in the same way as cognitive, physical, and emotional development (Benson, Roehlkepartain & Rude 2010). The significance of this is underscored by the substantial research into the importance and role of religion and children’s spirituality within the school environment (Roux 2006, Hyde 2005, Grajczonek 2011, and Nesbitt

Similarly, while there has been an increase in scholarly research regarding the phenomena of spirituality and spiritual development, from both religious and secular perspectives, particularly amongst adults and adolescents (Grajczonek 2011:3). There is, however, an emerging interest in the spirituality and particularly, in the spiritual development of adolescents and younger children (Cavalletti 1992; Benson et al. 2003; Bridges & Moore 2002; Donahue & Benson 1995; and Smith