Debunking Myths about Newcomer Youth

 

 

A public education campaign to stop harmful stereotypes, ignorance, and racism affecting newcomer youth across Canada.

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Campaign Backgrounder:

Refugee and immigrant youth in Canada often face stereotypes, prejudice, misconceptions, and racism which can lead them to feel isolated, alienated and hopeless. For example, many newcomer youth feel like they are being perceived as gang members or criminals because of their clothing style and skin color. Some feel they are seen as job-thieves, burdens on the welfare system, “illegal immigrants,” or “queue jumpers” instead of workers contributing to Canada’s economy. Often they feel they are perceived as stupid or illiterate because of language barriers or they are suspected as "terrorists" because of their religion. Gay newcomers are sometimes assumed to be heterosexual because of the myth that people of color can’t be LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer/questioning).

We all absorb implicit bias and stereotypes, and these have real impacts on how we perceive others: who we think we can trust, who we think belongs, who we think is normal...and who isn’t. But this is just a part of the equation. Myths, stereotypes, misconceptions, prejudice, implicit bias, and racism are not just about misinformation but are also part of larger societal problems. If we want diversity in our society, we have to address racism at the implicit/emotional level in addition to the formal structural/policy level.

If we don’t make a conscious effort to be aware of our implicit bias, they may influence how we interact with others, affecting not only who we chose as our friends, but most importantly who we want as our employees, tenants, roommates, doctors, politicians...even who we want to welcome as immigrants and refugees. We are all affected by individual and systemic oppression, but most importantly, we also have the power to change ourselves and these systems!

During the Fall of 2010, a few CCR Youth Network members got together to call up CCR members and discuss myths about newcomer youth. We asked what myths youth are facing and these are some of the answers that we got:

MYTH: Refugee youth take government money/get everything for free

MYTH: Newcomer youth are drug dealers or gang members

MYTH: Newcomer youth are stupid/uneducated/illiterate

MYTH: Newcomer youth cannot speak English/French

MYTH: Newcomer youth can’t or don’t want to fit in

MYTH: Newcomer youth came from the jungle, or are "primitive"

MYTH: Jails are filled with “illegal immigrants”

MYTH: Immigrants take the jobs

MYTH: Refugees are dangerous

MYTH: Newcomer youth are not LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning)

People should know that these myths are nothing like reality, that newcomer youth are just regular human beings in all their usual variety, that they have lived through particular experiences that may present specific challenges, but also contribute to making newcomer youth resilient and creative...but of course, it's not that simple, right?

Sometimes, factual information isn't enough to bebunk deeply embeded myths or implicit bias. But what can create change in people is inter-action with those who we call "others." It’s by talking to each other that we'll get to understand each other, grasp each others' realities, see our commonalities, and sympathize with one another. We need to create spaces and initiatives for inter-action. We need to give ourselves a chance to change.

Finally, it’s important to remember that anti-racism and anti-oppression is life-long work - everyone can make mistakes or not know exactly what to say. Let's not let these fears stop us, let's create change today.

 

Take Action :

This campaign is just getting off the ground. Here are a few suggestions on how to debunk myths about newcomer youth in your community, but feel free to let your imagination loose!

  • We're working on creating public education resources to debunk these myths, but we need your help. We're looking for anything from podcasts, short videos, music videos, workshop outlines, popular theatre scripts, posters, pamphlets, Power Point presentations, and podcasts to speakers’ bureaus and online resource collections. Whatever you can think of! 
  • Organize a meeting with newcomer youth/allies in your community to discuss what are the myths that people are facing and decide on actions that you could take to expose the REAL experiences of newcomer youth. Let us know what you plan to do at cbeaudry [at] ccrweb [dot] ca so that we can share your story with others from across Canada and inspire people into action.

Useful Resources

Debunking Myths about Newcomer Youth Workshop Example - at the Consultation in Calgary, the Youth Network organized a workshop on Debunking Myths about Newcomer Youth using theater of the oppressed techniques. See the workshop report and use it to organize a similar workshop in your community!

Facing Facts: Myth and Misconceptions about Refugees and Immigrants in Canada - pamphlet and Power Point presentation that dispel common myths and misconceptions about refugees and immigrants in Canada, 2008.

Four Faces, Four Values in your Community! Stand Up! Get Involved! - a national campaign to communicate to the public what we want for refugees in Canada, 2011.

Myths and Facts 2011 - information to debunk 8 myths circulating about refugees.

Shared Youth Resource Library - in the Shared Youth Resource Library, you'll find resources on topics ranging from anti-racism to creating a safe space for LGBTQ newcomers. You can also add your own resource to the web site!

Talking about Refugees and Immigrants: a Glossary of Terms - distinguishes between common terms used to talk about refugee and immigrants in Canada and around the world, 2 pages. 2004. Only available electronically.  

Inspiring Initiatives

Get inspired by what other people are doing across Canada to debunk myths about newcomer youth! Do you know of any awesome initiative that should be added to this list? Let us know at cbeaudry [at] ccrweb [dot] ca

The Peace Ambassadors’ Initiative (Edmonton): an anti-racism training program  that includes courses on peaceful conflict transformation, public speaking, media skills, and social justice in order to prepare youth to facilitate anti-racist presentations in their communities.

The IRCOM Ambassadors’ Program (Winnipeg): a group of diverse Winnipegers that strive to create spaces for meaningful dialogue between established and newcomer Canadians by preparing youth to present public education seminars, host community dialogue forums, engage the media to take action and raise awareness, and share their stories as newcomer youth with the public.

Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council Inc.’s Ambassador Program (Winnipeg): forms “Welcome Groups” between established students (the Ambassadors) and newcomers in Winnipeg schools, to offer emotional and social support to newcomer youth. Through this program, the Ambassadors and the schools learn about the values in different cultures and traditions. 

The Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre (Toronto): a non-for-profit organization that gives youth the tools and support to create artistic works and media productions that explore issues of relevance to them and their communities. These resources, along with the process of creating them, increase personal well-being, contribute to community health and address systemic barriers to equitable social participation.

The Newcomer Youth Centre (NYC) Summer Theatre Program (Toronto): NYC provides a voice to newcomer and refugee youth through its Summer Theatre Program.

Struggle to Survive (Edmonton): a yearlong project involving refugee and immigrant youth collaborating with film makers to produce a film that speaks about the challenges and experiences they face, have faced and what is to come.

Mapping Memories, Experiences of Refugee Youth in Montreal (Montreal): Stories of Refugee Youth in Montreal is a collaborative multi-media project which uses personal stories and a range of media tools (video, sound walks, mapping, photography) to share the experiences of youth with refugee experience in Montreal.

New Moves (Ontario) : An Orientation Video for Newcomer Students features fourteen students talking about their adjustment to school in Canada and what helped them be successful. The students speak about the differences in behaviour expectations, teaching methods and in communicating with teachers and other students. Their voices are complemented by the comments of school administrators and dynamic images of life in Canadian schools. The New Moves Users’ Guide provides suggestions for discussion, role plays and written activities for students, school staff and parents.

The Project X (Montreal) - The mandate of Project X is to support youth by helping them find creative ways to survive the effects of institutional racism and racial profiling. This website’s purpose is to educate, inform and provide a forum for communication.

More initiatives are available on the French version of this web page.