Refugee Children In Canada example essay topic

Refugee Children In Canada: Searching For Identity The authors of the article analyze the broad variety of stresses and hardships facing refugee children in Canada, as a result of their past. As defined by the UN, refugees are persons (children or adults), who are residing outside of their countries and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution, because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Canada, as one of the few countries in the world with an active and permanent immigration policy, has a longstanding humanitarian tradition towards refugees. Persons, who were not born in Canada, make up more than 17% of the Canadian population (this is much higher than approximately 10% in the U.S., which is traditionally perceived as an immigrant country), with more than 11% belonging to a visible minority groups.

In the years 1995-1999, more than 300,000 immigrant children were resettled in Canada, with approximately 15% refugees. Children of immigrants and refugees share some similar characteristics. For both group migration and settlement in a new country are major disruptions of their lives. Children in both groups very often find themselves torn between the new world of school and the old world of home. As such, they must perform a role of "cultural interpreters", bridging the old and the new worlds for their parents. At the same time, the children of immigrants and refugees might encounter discrimination and racism in the new society.

This could lead to a situation, when the children do not belong to any culture: neither the new one they are trying to adopt, nor the old one left behind. There exist a number of characteristics that differentiate children of refugees from the children of other immigrants, affecting their adaptation to the new society. First, refugees' children often experienced traumatic events: war, persecution, danger, refugee camps, killings, torture, rape, etc. Some of them were forced to serve as soldiers, some lost their families or their belongings. In addition, immigrants can usually return to their countries, while refugees cannot.

All those factors contribute to the high level of stress placed on the children. While we usually think that children adapt quickly and do not grieve, it is simply not true. They might not talk about their feelings, because they do not want to upset their parents, or simply nobody is listening. The authors report on a study conducted in 2000 with 10 refugee families, which received extensive assistance during their resettlement process. The help included language services, housing services, English language classes, community orientation, health services assistance, and various other services. The children in those families participated in the National Play Program for At-Risk Refugee Children, which facilitates healing in children after severe traumatic experiences.

One of the most important factors in integration of the children of refugees is the development of personal identity. This process can be difficult due to the migration, insecurity and the additional stress of finding one self between two or more conflicting cultures. The authors quote a number of children, who found themselves in a different light when placed in the new environment: they were tall in their country, but are considered short in Canada, other children prefer to call them by a different name than their given one, etc. The importance of social services is also illustrated by two cases. The first one was a family from the Balkans, who lost their father during the war and resettled in Canada. Because of a serious illness of the mother, the 11-years old daughter had to cope with the past and take car of her younger siblings.

When the family was provided with extensive settlement and counseling, the daughter expressed a sense of relief and optimism for the future. In another case a young girl (12 years old) came to Canada from Eastern Africa with her three brothers. Both of their parents were killed in the war, and the girl had to take care of her siblings. They were connected with a distant relative living in Canada, who ultimately became their guardian.

The authors make an additional point, that because of the horrific nature of some of the experiences and the additional stress of adjusting to the new culture, the refugees and their children do not have opportunity to grieve, which also has a tremendous effect on their mental health. The authors conclude by reiterating that social services must be specifically tailored to the needs of refugees and their children. Children are in the most vulnerable part of their lives and we must ensure that they receive any help and humanitarian assistance that is possible.