Navigating Multiple Worlds, an exhibit which was born out of a research project at UVic, shows how reaching out to immigrant youth can positively impact their cultural transition into Canada.
The exhibit features photographs, reflective writings, perspectives, and discoveries of a group of immigrant youth who have been part of the research project.
UVic PhD candidate Sarah Fletcher, who also volunteers with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), developed the idea of conducting the research project, which started in October of last year.
“The staff at VIRCS mentioned that some of the immigrant youth they work with suffer with stress without many resources to help them,” she says. “So I focused on what stresses and challenges immigrant youth were experiencing.”
Fletcher first reached out to immigrant youth by conducting a free two-day workshop for youth ages 13-30. The workshop was for those interested in photography, journalism, research, and getting involved in the community.
“I had 15 participants at the first workshop, and by the end of it I explained how there was another big project they could be involved in as well, focusing on the immigrant youth integrating in to Victoria’s community and how we could improve that process,” she says.
Thanks to outside funding, Fletcher has been able to hire six immigrant youth as research assistants.
“First we came up with the research questions, did 30 youth interviews, 10 service-provider interviews,” says Fletcher. “The interviews all were based around what is challenging, what youth are experiencing, and what can be enhanced in Victoria as far as services and support for immigrant youth.”
18-year-old Brazilian immigrant Isabela Sasaki has been involved in Navigating Multiple Worlds since the first workshop.
“I came to Victoria when I was 14 years old and found that my school didn’t give me the proper support I needed,” says Sasaki. “They had ESL, but they lacked something else, something that could offer more support. VIRCS never reached out to me when I was in school, so having resources that reach out to immigrants would be a benefit.”
27-year-old Moroccan immigrant Zouheir Tounsi moved to Victoria when he was three years old and had stresses integrating in to Canadian culture due to unawareness of the resources available for him and his parents.
“I was stressed out learning English, let alone the rest of my curriculum, in elementary school,” says Tounsi. “My parents couldn’t read English at the time, weren’t able to help me with my homework, and weren’t aware of what resources were available for me. They could have been reached out to more effectively to make my education less stressful for me.”
Fletcher and her research team have encountered immigrant youth who are stressed by things like the public transport system, recycling, and other everyday things. The team has made bus guides in different languages, recycling guides, buddy systems, and ideas of how schools can help.
“I hope to continue conducting research to alleviate stress for immigrants coming in to Canada,” says Fletcher, “while trying to reach out more and making more resources available for immigrants.”
Navigating Multiple Worlds
June 1-3
Xchanges Gallery