Thousands of children and young people are taking on responsibilities typically handled by adults. “Young carers” from immigrant backgrounds assist their parents in navigating Switzerland by serving as interpreters, a role that is often undervalued and underappreciated.
Shazna Leusin was only ten years old when she and a friend from the Tamil Muslim community were sent to a gynecologist appointment. Her role was to translate the conversation.
However, what this acquaintance disclosed to young Shazna made her feel embarrassed: “She told me that she experienced pain during sex with her husband,” Shazna Leusin recalls today. As a young girl, she felt overwhelmed by these intimate details and lacked the words to express them.
A heavy burden of guilt
Even now, this 30-year-old often handles challenging translations for her father, including communicating with authorities, writing letters, or dealing with the insurance company and landlord.
Shazna Leusin’s mother died of breast cancer after years of missed check-ups, partly due to the language barrier. Today, the young woman continues to feel a weight of guilt. As a child, she sometimes felt like a burden for repeatedly needing to assist her parents. Nine years after her mother’s passing, she still grapples with feelings that she didn’t contribute enough.
One in eight children provides support
In Switzerland, it is estimated that one in eight children aged 10 to 15 engages in support work for adults. This is usually done discreetly, particularly when it involves their own parents. Sofika Yogarasa, a journalist at SRF, also identifies as a “young carer.” She began translating for her parents as a child.
Her family fled Sri Lanka to Switzerland in the 1990s, and her parents still occasionally depend on her help. “Saying no is not an option,” Sofika Yogarasa states. In a collectivist society like the Tamil community, caring for the family is taken for granted, even if it entails significant responsibility.
Like Shazna Leusin, the 28-year-old feels that she hasn’t done enough for her parents. “My parents did not have an easy life. When they came to Switzerland as refugees, they had to work hard right away.” Today, she wants to raise awareness about individuals like her parents, who never learned German well and lacked the means to attend a language school.
Learning hindered by trauma
Matthis Schick, chief physician at the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychosomatics at the University Hospital Zurich, affirms that refugees’ learning capabilities can be diminished when they suffer from psychological trauma: “If you are constantly afraid of being deported, worrying about your sick parents back home, or struggling to find work or housing, your mind isn’t free enough to focus on learning vocabulary.”
Additionally, refugees often have limited educational backgrounds, complicating language acquisition even further. It’s entirely understandable that children wish to assist their parents, even when that help sometimes exceeds their capacity.
Fatigue and exhaustion
Semira Abebe frequently found herself reaching her limits as a young girl. At the age of seven, she fled Eritrea for Switzerland with her parents and four siblings. As the eldest, she quickly learned German and took on numerous responsibilities for her family.
When her parents wanted to move out of their asylum accommodation and into their own apartment, Semira Abebe, who was twelve at the time, had to inform the relevant authorities. “I probably didn’t translate the conversation as my mother hoped,” she explains. “She was angry with me and said I should have tried harder.”
Like her, many “young carers” feel they cannot do enough and struggle to meet their family’s demands. Rohan Patil, 35, cared for his ailing parents for years. He drove them to medical appointments, waited for hours in the car outside hospitals, and was always available to them. “Basically, I was stuck my whole life and often felt completely overwhelmed,” he reflects on that challenging time.
Today, eight years after his mother passed away, Rohan Patil has moved into his first apartment. He sought to distance himself from his parents’ home and the almost obsessive notion of always needing to care for everyone immediately. “I was always on high alert, feeling that something could happen at any moment.”
Recognition: invaluable support
Due to the caregiving he provided, Rohan Patil became ill himself. “The constant stress often left me exhausted. I couldn’t take it any longer.” The young man had poor eating habits, which ultimately led to him developing a tumor in his pancreas.
As a teenager, Rohan Patil found it difficult to share his situation with anyone. Now, as an elementary school teacher, he is concerned about children who may have had similar experiences at home. He believes: “Simply recognizing and appreciating their efforts can make a significant difference.”
Ilona Stämpfli (SRF)
The Emotional Burden of Young Carers
Thousands of children and young people in Switzerland are taking on responsibilities that would traditionally belong to adults. Among them are the “young carers,” particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, who often serve as interpreters for their parents. This role, while essential, is frequently overlooked and underestimated.
Shazna Leusin: A Young Carer’s Story
One poignant example is Shazna Leusin, who was just ten years old when she first translated conversations between her Tamil Muslim friends and health professionals. In a particularly uncomfortable situation, she found herself in a gynecological appointment, translating intimate details about a friend’s marital issues. Overwhelmed and without the proper vocabulary to address such sensitive topics, Shazna’s experience reflects the immense emotional weight carried by young carers.
A Heavy Weight of Guilt
Shazna continues to support her family even as an adult, translating for her father in dealings with authorities, writing letters, or handling insurance communications. She grapples with feelings of guilt, intensified by the memory of her mother, who died from breast cancer partly due to the language barrier that prevented her from receiving adequate medical attention.
“Sometimes I felt like a burden. I always thought I could do more,” she reflects on her childhood responsibilities as a young carer, a sentiment that resonates with many in her position.
Prevalence of Young Carers in Switzerland
Research suggests that in Switzerland, approximately one in eight children aged 10 to 15 are involved in support work for adults, often without formal recognition. Many of these children feel compelled to help their immigrant parents navigate various systems, frequently opting to keep their responsibilities a secret.
Sofika Yogarasa: An Ongoing Responsibility
Journalist Sofika Yogarasa also identifies as a “young carer.” Her family fled Sri Lanka during the war in the 1990s, and throughout her childhood, she took on the task of translating for her parents. “No is not an option,” she shares, emphasizing the societal expectation in her Tamil community to prioritize family responsibilities, regardless of personal costs.
The Role of Trauma in Learning
Matthis Schick, the Chief Physician at the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychosomatics at the University Hospital Zurich, confirms that psychological trauma can severely impact a refugee’s ability to learn a new language. “Constant fears regarding deportation, health issues, or financial stability occupy one’s mind, making it even harder to focus on language acquisition,” he explains.
Challenges of Daily Life
For many young carers like Semira Abebe, who fled Eritrea at the age of seven, responsibilities include ensuring their families can navigate everyday necessities. Semira quickly learned German and found herself translating discussions with authorities when her parents sought housing. However, like many others, she often felt insufficient in meeting her family’s expectations.
The Unseen Exhaustion
Rohan Patil experienced similar feelings of being overwhelmed while caring for his seriously ill parents. His experiences, waiting long hours during medical appointments and always being available for help, bred a sense of exhaustion that culminated in a medical crisis of his own.
Creating Awareness: Shifting the Perspective
Rohan, now an elementary school teacher, aims to highlight the struggles of young carers. “Just perceiving and appreciating their performance can make a huge difference,” he asserts. Recognizing the contributions of young carers not only validates their efforts but also brings much-needed attention to their challenges.
Benefits of Recognizing Young Carers
Emotional Wellbeing
- Validation of their contributions can foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of guilt.
- Creating support systems can alleviate stress and enhance emotional resilience.
Educational Opportunities
- Encouragement in educational settings can empower young carers to pursue higher learning.
- Language programs targeting immigrant families can ease their transition and reduce dependency on children for interpretation.
Practical Tips for Supporting Young Carers
- Open Conversations: Encourage open discussions about their responsibilities and feelings.
- Provide Resources: Ensure that young carers have access to language learning and emotional support resources.
- Community Engagement: Foster community programs that promote cultural integration and family support.
First-Hand Experience: A Rich Source for Change
Sharing real-life stories of young carers has immense potential to foster understanding and encourage systemic changes. By providing a platform for their voices, we can also consider tailored interventions that tackle the unique challenges faced by these young individuals. Their resilience is awe-inspiring, yet it’s essential that they do not feel alone in their journey.
| Challenges Faced | Potential Solutions |
|---|---|
| Language Barrier | Language support programs for parents |
| Emotional Stress | Access to counseling services |
| Isolation | Community-building activities |
