Youth Settlement in North York

Ethnic minorities, women leaders, activists, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and families have been arriving in Canada to escape the political unrest in Afghanistan since 2021. Among this group are a large number of children and youth who are going through this overwhelming process as well.

Over 3800 Afghan children aged 4-18 settled in Canada in 2021 where they can learn new skills and continue their education.

I interviewed NYCH’s School Settlement worker, Salma, about her experience working with Afghan High School students.

Over the last two years, Salma has seen over 200 Afghan youth newcomers participating in NYCH’s programs. Salma meets with students and their families one-on-one acts as a liaison between newcomer families and the school, and facilitates culturally specific workshops and youth groups for Afghan students such as Kipling Collegiate’s Chill & Chai.

We have activities, and games,  and answer any questions they might have. We sometimes bring in guest speakers from Toronto Public Library and partner organizations to discuss topics like resume building and job interviews.

According to Salma, challenges refugee children face mostly include language barriers, mental health struggles and intensive culture shock.

At a young age, it is common for children to feel fear and reluctance towards sharing their problems especially if their home country views mental health as a taboo subject. Language barriers decrease effective communication between clients and workers. NYCH’s youth and settlement program provides specific workers that are appointed for mental health support who also speak the same language as the community.

As Afghan youth get their education, they are also making use of the other NYCH services such as working with their mental health and wellness teams. It was important for children to receive the right amount of mental health support because it can be difficult to navigate their emotions at a young age.

During NYCH’s newcomer orientation week, they specifically provided mental health sessions for Afghans dealing with trauma with the referral to their official mental health support program. Salma mentioned how the children were more open to share their experiences when they improved their language skills.

When asked, “What would be your best piece of advice for someone who is new to the country?” Salma’s main recommendation was to get involved by connecting to settlement organizations as their services are free. It is a great way to connect to others to find community, find more support, learn about different programs, start networking and explore Canada. 

 

References

Government of Canada. (2022). School programs help Afghan children thrive in Canada. Retrieved from the official website of the Government of Canada.