Adjusting to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially for young immigrants who leave behind familiar faces, places and traditions.
Sara and Walida are two resilient young women, now aged 14 and 16, who grew up in Lebanon and moved to Canada eight years ago. The beginning of their new lives in Canada was filled with uncertainty and challenges. Yet, through the support of Archway’s Immigrant Youth Services (IYS) program, they found a community that helped them navigate their new lives, develop essential skills, and embrace their identities.
“I remember feeling so scared my first time in Canada,” Sara shared. “Everything was so easy in Lebanon. People looked just like me and they spoke my language.”
Walida and Sara were both born in Syria but spent much of their childhood in Lebanon.
“I lived in an apartment complex like Walida. I had a lot of friends in Lebanon,” said Sara.
“We’d play a lot of outside games. Your neighbors would come, call you over, and you’d go outside and hang out. No matter how late it was, it was really safe,” Walida added.
Sara and Walida moved to Canada with their families when they were 8 and 10 years old, respectively. Their families were temporarily housed in a hotel upon arriving in Canada, and for Walida, who was only ten at the time, it felt like living in a castle. Sara and Walida met while living in the same hotel.
“It’s very different here in Canada because we had to switch houses all the time. We’re around people who don’t speak the same language or believe the same things as us,” Walida explained.
“The first time I wore a hijab here, it felt really weird because I’d get strange looks. But back home, everyone wore it.”
The transition was particularly challenging because they knew very little English, aside from a few numbers and colours.
Their first year in Canada was spent in a half-day school designed for newcomer children from the Middle East where they began learning the basics of the English language.
“It was a whole change being with new people. We didn’t know each other at first, so it felt like it was just you and your family alone,” Walida said.
They were then enrolled in a temporary school for Arabic-speaking students in Abbotsford, where Sara and Walida started to adjust to the Canadian schooling system. The school provided a bridge to their new reality, allowing them to learn English and Canadian culture alongside other Arab children.
“The first day of school, I was so scared. I did not want to talk to anyone, but then I made friends with the other Arab kids,” Sara recalled.
“It was a whole change being with new people… so it felt like it was just you and your family alone.”
Receiving support from Immigrant Youth Services
As they spent more time at school and at the Immigrant Youth Services (IYS) building, they began to feel more comfortable. The IYS program was a supportive environment where they socialized with other newcomer youth, caught up on homework, played games, and learned life skills.
IYS offers a variety of programs to help newcomer youth integrate into life in Canada. IYS offers after-school programs, one-on-one support, and culture club – a program run during lunch hour at seven middle and high schools in Abbotsford. Sara and Walida have been a part of IYS since they started school in Abbotsford.
“As we got older, the programs started to change. Now we were learning how to interview for jobs. I was surprised at how serious the staff took it. We joke around with them a lot, but they treated it very seriously, no laughing, no joking around—just like a real interview,” said Sara.
They also learned about banking, budgeting, and public speaking skills.
“We work hard to equip youth with essential life skills and a supportive community, so they feel comfortable to enjoy themselves and learn practical skills,” said Murad Ahmed, the IYS supervisor.
Clients also receive one-to-one support from a youth worker to help them get their schooling back on track after arrival, find employment, housing, medical care, mental health supports, or whatever else they need to achieve their goals.
“As we got older, the programs started to change. Now we were learning how to interview for jobs.”
Adjusting to life in Canada
Initially very shy, Sara noticed a change when she started coming to the IYS program around grade six.
“I started being more open and willing to talk to people.”
IYS has provided a comfortable place for Sara and Walida to grow and accept being different.
“Everyone is different, and everyone has left their home country and came here just like you. You don’t have to be embarrassed about not speaking English very well because everyone is new,” Walida emphasized.
“There’s no reason to be ashamed or afraid of being different,” Sara added.
After being in Canada for six years, Sara and Walida feel much more at ease navigating their community. Though they miss certain aspects of home, like the close-knit community they once felt, they are optimistic about their future in Canada.
“I’m looking forward to getting a driver’s license and getting a job,” said Sara.
“I’m looking forward to graduating high school and I want to go to university and learn how to start my own business,” Walida said.
Through the guidance and support of IYS, Sara and Walida have not only adjusted to life in Canada but have also thrived. Their journey from uncertain newcomers to confident high school students is a testament to their resilience and the nurturing environment provided by IYS.
“We work hard to equip youth with essential life skills and a supportive community, so they feel comfortable to enjoy themselves and learn practical skills.”