Facilitative Factors and Impediments to Newcomer Youth’s Initial Integration Milestones: The Arab Newcomer Youth Experience

Abstract

Within the Syrian refugees’ initiative, Canada has adopted a leading role in welcoming a significant number of Syrian refugees, over 1,600 of which have settled in Windsor-Essex. This signifies the importance of enhancing our role as a host society in fostering opportunities that would lead Syrians to a successful integration. This book chapter consults literature on acculturation as well as facilitative factors and impediments that influence immigrants and refugees’ integration.Integration is the strategy characterized by individuals or groups who are interested in maintaining their cultural heritage while establishing interactions with the larger society (Behrens, del Pozo, Großhennig, Sieberer, & Graef-Calliess, 2015; Berry, 2001, 2005, 2014; Paterson, 2008). The chapter also highlights the importance of incorporating youth’s perspectives to understand their integration experience. The stories of three youth present examples where youths’ motive for achieving potential combined with formal and informal supports can facilitate initial integration milestones. Engaging youth voices can be used as a means of healing by drawing on their perspectives, thereby, youth are acknowledged and valued. Consequently, reconciliation is an anticipated outcome through social integration opportunities that the host (Canadian) society can help foster.