Becoming, doing and letting go: (Extra)ordinary citizens’ engagement with resettled Syrian refugee families in rural France

Abstract : This chapter examines local networks for refugee reception in a rural department of France in which several small towns have welcomed one ‘vulnerable’ family of resettled Syrian refugees based on the commitment of volunteers with no previous experience with refugees. The authors shed light on the contextual and collective dynamics of engagement in a situation in which the refugees are isolated and dependent, yet also much ‘desired’ and meant to remain indefinitely. The focus is on local actors such as elected officials, employees of the municipal social services and translators. The paper unfolds their experience as volunteers and professionals and their relationship to each other.