‘If we want, they help us in any way’: how ‘unaccompanied refugee minors’ experience mentoring relationships

This article explores the experiences of unaccompanied refugee minors participating in mentoring programs in Austria. Based on two multilingual focus group interviews with young people involved in a pilot “godparenthood” project for unaccompanied minors, the author examines how these youths perceive their relationships with mentors and how these relationships affect their social support and social capital. The findings emphasize the importance of emotional support, guidance, and access to social networks provided by mentors, facilitating the integration and transition of these young people into independent living.