Integration of newcomer youth

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Canada has a long way to go to provide adequate support to newcomer young people to ensure their success.

Abbas Kidane, a native Ethiopian, was aware of the cultural and linguistic challenges he would encounter when he arrived in Canada as a refugee. The 26-yearold was focused on the improved life he hoped to have and actively sought out post-secondary opportunities in business administration.

“I had some concerns before making the move, especially regarding language barriers. However, I was cognizant of Canada’s reputation as an immigrant-friendly nation with a commitment to addressing the needs of newcomers,” Kidane says.

It took him more than a full year to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Kidane, who is currently enrolled at the University of Toronto as a student of business administration, credits the help and guidance that he received from his friends in the community for guiding him to settlement agencies.

“I learned that settlement agencies offer language classes and leadership training, so I enrolled in one,”He says. “Not only did that give me confidence, but I also gained a clear understanding of the cultural aspects of Canadian society. It was under their guidance that I embarked on my pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in business administration.”

Proactive initiatives and measures Newcomer youth like Kidane play a vital role in bolstering Canada’s economy, given the country’s aging workforce. According to the annual immigration report by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international migration remains the primary source of Canada’s population growth. 40 percent of the 371,299 immigrants Canada has welcomed in the three-quarters of 2023 were newcomer youth. As Canada continues to welcome people from diverse backgrounds, it is important that these young newcomers are integrated seamlessly.

Canada’s immigrant settlement program is one such proactive measure, tailored to facilitate the swift integration of newcomers into the economic and social structure of Canadian society. This initiative is crucial in helping immigrant youth overcome specific challenges, such as limited language proficiency and unfamiliarity with Canada. Under this program, a variety of settlement agencies provide diverse services to refugees, including guidance about essential government services, pre-employment training, mentorship and assistance with housing and food.

Another key initiative is Canada’s Youth Policy, implemented in 2019, to ensure that the voices of young people are incorporated into federal decision-making processes. Canada Service Corps, a youth-oriented program, is one of the flagship programs under this policy. It provides funding to national and local organizations to enable them to recruit and train young volunteers aged between 15 and 30.

Kidane is also a part of the program and he expresses concerns about its progress. “The policy in my view has fallen short of its intended objectives. While it initially pledged to offer up to 15,000 service placements for youth annually by 2024, the current progress indicates a substantial lag. Many participants are not happy with the placements.”

Key challenges
The integration process is made more difficult by the significant increase in emigration. Despite Canada’s continued openness to international students, refugees and asylum seekers, research by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada finds that reverse immigration has emerged as a significant hurdle for individuals aspiring to establish themselves in Canada. According to official data, in the first six month of 2023, around 42,000 people left Canada. Among them, 20 percent were youth. The study found that the integration challenges faced by immigrants are multifaceted. They include workplace discrimination, non-recognition for foreign education and experience, housing crises, and primarily financial constraints.

Monika Sveryte (24 years old) is a marketing specialist and communications specialist in Lithuania. She has found it difficult to find a job that fits her skills.

“I’m on a one-year work permit. I have diligently applied for numerous jobs in my field of expertise,”She says “Unfortunately, my efforts have been in vain, as the employers seem to prioritize candidates with Canadian experience. I find myself compelled to take up a cashier position in a restaurant. This is more of a survival strategy for me than a career choice.”

Based on research by various Canadian universities, the devaluation of immigrants’ prior education and work experience from their home countries is a pervasive issue. Highly qualified visible minority immigrants, possessing graduate and master’s degrees comparable to those from Canadian universities, find themselves relegated to menial jobs. This challenge is most pronounced for newcomer young people from low-income and marginalized communities.

The economic barrier is another formidable obstacle that newcomers face. Unfavourable economic policies relating to immigration exacerbate their problems. The recent increase of the minimum cost-of-living financial requirement for international student from $10,000 to $20.635 increases the financial pressure on the students. This could lead to a decrease in student immigration, and therefore impact the entry of youth newcomers to Canada.

Kristin Schwartz

“Most settlement agencies would be more equipped to assist international students if they received increased funding from the federal government,”Kristin Swartz, manager at CultureLink Settlement and Community Services (Toronto), says: “The federal government expects international students to contribute financially to the country through fees and GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate). However, in return, the government invests very little in above Monika Sveryte their support. This paradigm needs to change.”

In addition, the housing affordability and rental rate crisis act as an obstacle against the integration. Despite the government’s assurances of addressing the housing crisis, a sizable cohort of youth tussle with securing suitable accommodation. This crisis is also exacerbated by the weakening job market, as many youth still struggle to find full-time or part-time work after months of searching.

Statista Canada reports that only 100 jobs were created in December 2023. This is the culmination of a year where unemployment rates increased from 5% in January last year to 5.8% in December.

Jithu Joseph

Jithu Joseph is a social media influencer from London, Ontario who came to Canada in 2018 as an international student. He says that his experience in Canada was not exhilarating.

“One of the most significant challenges I encountered in the integration process was my lack of awareness regarding the lifestyle, college education and part-time opportunities available here,”He says.

Joseph obtained his Canadian Student Visa through an immigration company. “My college admission and visa procedures were managed through an immigration consultancy in India. However, these consultancies often fail to provide an accurate portrayal of Canada. They tend to exaggerate and misrepresent the opportunities available here,”He says.

The 29-yearold considers it a blessing to have met seniors from his community in Canada. They responded to his concerns with a realistic portrayal of life in Canada.

“Many newcomers arriving in Canada come with lofty expectations of swiftly attaining lucrative jobs and accumulating substantial savings within months. Such high expectations can lead them to disappointment and even depression when reality diverges from their anticipated path,”He says.

His advice for newcomers is: “temper their expectations. Anyone arriving here should understand that life in Canada is not akin to a fairy tale; it doesn’t mirror what is often depicted on social media.”

The post Integration of newcomer youthFirst appeared on Canadian Immigrant.



‘ Credit:

Original content by canadianimmigrant.ca. “Facilitating Integration of Newcomer Youth”

Read the full article here https://canadianimmigrant.ca/settlement/facilitating-integration-of-newcomer-youth ‘