Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes
Social networks play an important role in the integration experiences of refugees and newcomers, providing material, emotional, informational, and appraisal support that may not be readily available elsewhere. These informal networks serve as supplemental and often preferred sources of culturally ap...
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| I publikationen: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/eccs, |
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| Huvudupphovsmän: | , , , , , , , , |
| Materialtyp: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Språk: | Anglais |
| Publicerad: |
Études canadiennes / Canadian Studies
2025
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| Ämnen: | |
| Länkar: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:eccs_7992 |
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| record_format |
openedition |
| collection |
OpenEdition Journal |
| language |
Anglais |
| format |
Article ou chapitre numérique |
| building |
0/Bibliothèque numérique/ 1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/ |
| topic |
Canada accompagnement social réseaux sociaux réfugiés réinstallés Syriens Canada social support social networks resettled refugees Syrians |
| spellingShingle |
Canada accompagnement social réseaux sociaux réfugiés réinstallés Syriens Canada social support social networks resettled refugees Syrians Qasim, Kashmala Oda, Anna Massijeh, May Al Mhamied, Adnan Ives, Nicole Khalaf, Mahi Sherrell, Kathy Hanley, Jill Hynie, Michaela Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| description |
Social networks play an important role in the integration experiences of refugees and newcomers, providing material, emotional, informational, and appraisal support that may not be readily available elsewhere. These informal networks serve as supplemental and often preferred sources of culturally appropriate support. They also foster a sense of belonging, especially for individuals facing language barriers. This study, conducted as part of the SyRIA.lth project, describes the social network strategies utilized by Syrian refugees in Canada during their initial years of resettlement, and how those strategies differ by gender and city of resettlement. Drawing from qualitative data collected through 16 focus groups (N = 115) across five Canadian cities (Toronto, Kitchener, Montreal, Okanagan Valley, and Vancouver), this study highlights the significance of both formal and informal support networks in facilitating refugee integration. While government-assisted refugees (GARs) predominantly relied on settlement agencies and community-based organizations, privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) demonstrated stronger reliance on personal connections, including sponsors, family, and faith-based organizations, such as local Mosques. Our findings further reveal barriers to accessing social networks, including English and French as a second and third language respectively, misinformation, psychological stressors, and systemic challenges within the settlement process. Overall, this research underscores the complexity of social support systems for newcomers and the necessity of policies that foster culturally inclusive community-based resources. |
| author |
Qasim, Kashmala Oda, Anna Massijeh, May Al Mhamied, Adnan Ives, Nicole Khalaf, Mahi Sherrell, Kathy Hanley, Jill Hynie, Michaela |
| author_facet |
Qasim, Kashmala Oda, Anna Massijeh, May Al Mhamied, Adnan Ives, Nicole Khalaf, Mahi Sherrell, Kathy Hanley, Jill Hynie, Michaela |
| author_sort |
Qasim, Kashmala |
| title |
Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| title_short |
Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| title_full |
Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| title_fullStr |
Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes |
| title_sort |
accessing social networks and support for syrian refugees across canada: categories and processes |
| publisher |
Études canadiennes / Canadian Studies |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| container_title |
URI:https://journals.openedition.org/eccs |
| url |
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://doi.org/10.4000/14f7t https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/eccs/7992 |
| _version_ |
1877291976583282688 |
| spelling |
openedition-oai:revues.org:eccs_7992 https://doi.org/10.4000/14f7t urn:doi:10.4000/14f7t en https://journals.openedition.org/eccs/7992 2025-07-24T02:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/14f7t All rights reserved Accessing social networks and support for Syrian refugees across Canada: categories and processes Études canadiennes / Canadian Studies Association française des études canadiennes (AFEC) info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/2429-4667 info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/0153-1700 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/eccs Qasim, Kashmala Oda, Anna Massijeh, May Al Mhamied, Adnan Ives, Nicole Khalaf, Mahi Sherrell, Kathy Hanley, Jill Hynie, Michaela Canada accompagnement social réseaux sociaux réfugiés réinstallés Syriens Canada social support social networks resettled refugees Syrians Social networks play an important role in the integration experiences of refugees and newcomers, providing material, emotional, informational, and appraisal support that may not be readily available elsewhere. These informal networks serve as supplemental and often preferred sources of culturally appropriate support. They also foster a sense of belonging, especially for individuals facing language barriers. This study, conducted as part of the SyRIA.lth project, describes the social network strategies utilized by Syrian refugees in Canada during their initial years of resettlement, and how those strategies differ by gender and city of resettlement. Drawing from qualitative data collected through 16 focus groups (N = 115) across five Canadian cities (Toronto, Kitchener, Montreal, Okanagan Valley, and Vancouver), this study highlights the significance of both formal and informal support networks in facilitating refugee integration. While government-assisted refugees (GARs) predominantly relied on settlement agencies and community-based organizations, privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) demonstrated stronger reliance on personal connections, including sponsors, family, and faith-based organizations, such as local Mosques. Our findings further reveal barriers to accessing social networks, including English and French as a second and third language respectively, misinformation, psychological stressors, and systemic challenges within the settlement process. Overall, this research underscores the complexity of social support systems for newcomers and the necessity of policies that foster culturally inclusive community-based resources. Les réseaux sociaux jouent un rôle important dans les expériences d’intégration des réfugiés et des nouveaux arrivants, en fournissant un soutien matériel, émotionnel, informationnel et évaluatif qui n’est peut-être pas facilement accessible ailleurs. Ces réseaux informels servent de sources supplémentaires, et souvent privilégiées, de soutien culturellement approprié. Ils favorisent également un sentiment d’appartenance, en particulier chez les personnes confrontées à des barrières linguistiques. Cette étude, menée dans le cadre du projet SyRIA.lth, décrit les stratégies liées aux réseaux sociaux utilisées par les réfugiés syriens au Canada au cours de leurs premières années de réinstallation, ainsi que les différences selon le sexe et la ville d’accueil. S’appuyant sur des données qualitatives recueillies auprès de 16 groupes de discussion (N = 115) dans cinq villes canadiennes (Toronto, Kitchener, Montréal, vallée de l’Okanagan et Vancouver), cette étude met en évidence l’importance des réseaux de soutien formels et informels pour faciliter l’intégration des réfugiés. Alors que les réfugiés pris en charge par le gouvernement (RPG) comptent principalement sur les agences d’accueil et les organisations communautaires, les réfugiés parrainés par le secteur privé (RPP) dépendent davantage de leurs relations personnelles, notamment des parrains, des membres de la famille et des organisations confessionnelles telles que les mosquées locales. Nos résultats révèlent en outre des obstacles à l’accès aux réseaux sociaux, notamment l’anglais comme langue seconde, la désinformation, les facteurs de stress psychologique et les défis systémiques liés au processus d’établissement. Dans l’ensemble, cette recherche souligne la complexité des dynamiques de soutien social et leur rôle crucial dans l’intégration des réfugiés syriens au Canada. |