Abstract: The integration of immigrant and refugee youth in Norway entails navigating linguistic, cultural, and social challenges that can hinder educational attainment, wellbeing, and future opportunities. Research shows that community-based mentoring has emerged as a promising strategy to support immigrant youth in their adaptation processes. This study explores how immigrant youth participants in the Vinn Vinn project experienced and perceived the role of mentoring in their social integration and overall wellbeing in three municipalities. The project, initiated by the Human Rights Academy in collaboration with Save the Children Norway, paired young immigrants (aged 16-23) with volunteer mentors who shared similar cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Drawing on twenty-two semi-strucutured interviews and complemented by targeted observations of programme activities, the findings demonstrate that mentoring facilitated social belonging, improved language and cultural competence, reduced loneliness, and provided both emotional and practical support. Anchored in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, theis study highlights how mentoring created opportunities for positive interactions across micro- and meso-level systems, bridging individual needs with wider community and institutional structures. This article contributes to the scholarship on immigrant youth integration by showing how culturally responsive, community-based mentoring can complement formal welfare services and enhance wellbeing among young immigrants in Norway.

Sexual abuse is a widespread issue in Brazil, and its effects are very damaging, if not irreversible, for victims. This type of violence is a deep-rooted, alarmingly widespread problem in Brazilian society, and the effects on lives can be extensive. Long-lasting effects may include psychosocial problems, with varying levels of intensity (for example, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or complex trauma), and physical issues that may range from chronic pain to reproductive concerns, or even chronic illnesses. For this reason, the current study explored predictors of sexual abuse in a nationally representative sample of students completing a school-based survey in 2019. Logistic regression models were developed using the following independent variables: age, gender, race, urban vs. rural, public vs. private, cyber victimization and traditional victimization by bullying. Findings indicated that age (16-17 versus younger; OR = 1.60, p < .001), female gender (OR = 2.36, p < .001) and indigenous and racial identities who identified as black (OR = 1.13, p = .003) or Asian (OR = 1.14, p = .045) increased the likelihood of sexual abuse. Findings also indicated students in public schools had higher odds of reporting sexual abuse (OR = 1.37, p < .001) than private school students. Those who experienced cyberbullying (OR = 3.22, p < .001) and school bullying (OR = 1.78, p < .001) reported greater odds for sexual abuse than their non-bullied classmates. Aligning with both national and international studies, these results provide testimony as to the extent and prevalence of sexual abuse. Findings involving demographic and relational variables provide avenues for prevention, such as in identifying risk factors to take preventative measures for at-risk youth. Enhancements in accessing support services are needed, as well societal awareness regarding this form of traumatic violence experienced by youth.