Paper short abstract:

Based on fieldwork within a host community for adolescent migrants in Milan, the paper examines their intricate journey of balancing two worlds, managing cultural expectations, and navigating distinct epistemologies. It also explores the religious practices they implement to foster their "agency".

Paper long abstract:

In this paper, I draw upon materials gathered during my ethnographic research conducted as part of my doctoral research at the University of Milano-Bicocca, in which I focus on a host community for unaccompanied minors in Milan within the framework of Anthropology of Islam. My emphasis is on the everyday Islamic practices of young migrants who find themselves in a challenging middle position between two societies. The collision they experience often involves conflicting views on their social position and role, rooted in different epistemologies. On the one hand, there is the aspiration to control one's life — the desire for a better social position, a positive image, and adherence to economic migratory mandates. On the other, the reality of arrival and life in host communities reveals a different scenario: a suspension of time, an inability to meet all needs, and a daily existence marked by obstacles, commitments, and significant anxieties. Amid this struggle, deviance is a constant threat. Islamic practice and spirituality, however, present an alternative. Despite not disregarding the pursuit of material wealth, they offer a path based on patience, prayer, and surrender, leading to serendipitous moments and acceptance. Understanding this struggle has been a significant aspect of my role as an educator and ethnographer. It has shifted my approach from a vertical and certainty-based perspective to one centered on dialogue and questions. This shift allowed me to inhabit the threshold between shaping and reshaping the migrant future — a space where these diverse epistemologies can intersect.