Voices, imaginaries and agency of Ukrainian and Moldovan transnational children

Situated at the intersection of transnational family studies and the sociology of childhood, the article gives a voice to children in Moldovan and Ukrainian labour migrants’ families, viewing their imaginary and practices in reconstructing their transnational world as displays of their agency. Based on data from 88 interviews with children, our findings show how children’s indirect transnational experience and their imaginary lead to accomplishments, such as normalising their situation through same-status peer groups; overcoming a sense of victimisation and assuming more responsibilities; and investing in extracurricular activities to create meaning, make good use of their time, and build self-image in a socially mediated manner. Children maintain an openness to study abroad as an important goal and an opportunity for future success, correlated with children’s studies as a rationale for parental migration. Personal migration plans are nonetheless equivocal given both a familiarity with the ‘abroad’ and a heightened importance of family and homeland.