Close to 60 Arabic speaking Syrian youth gathered together for an inaugural consultation September 17 to share their experiences of settling in Canada and make recommendations on settlement needs in BC.
During the consultation, participants responded to questions such as: “What has worked well for you so far in Canada? What could be done better? How can things be better managed for future refugees coming here?”
A report of recommendations was then compiled by participants and presented through a press conference, community meeting and a social media campaign October 6 that will help the next wave of refugees from Syria, who are due to arrive in November.
“This was the first time in ISSofBC history that we brought together former refugee youth within their first year to Canada and asked them how their settlement experience has been going to date as well as gained their input into some newcomer youth related policy and program needs,” said ISSofBC Director of Settlement Services Chris Friesen.
A total of 57 Syrian youth 15 to 24 years old participated in the consultation which translates to one in three Syrian youth currently in BC.
The Arab Youth Refugee Consultation and community meeting was held in partnership by The Fresh Voices Initiative of Vancouver Foundation.
