IN THIS ISSUE. News in Review Study Modules. Related CBC Programs

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2 IN THIS ISSUE Syrian Refugees: Resettling the Farwans (Duration 19:25) In late 2015 to 2016, Canada opened its doors to more than 31,000 Syrian refugees fleeing their war-torn homeland. Many newcomers left everything behind to get their family to safety. The Farwans are one such family who resettled in Lethbridge, Alberta. Mother, father and eight children are starting life over in a foreign land. The CBC s Adrienne Arsenault spent time with the family to see how they are adjusting to life in their new home and their new country. News in Review Study Modules Syria s Civil War: The Human Toll, April 2016 Syrian Arrivals: Canada Welcomes the First Refugees, February 2016 Syrian Refugees: Crisis in Germany, December 2015 EU Refugee Crisis, October 2015 Syrian Refugees: A Humanitarian Crisis, March 2015 Crisis in Syria, October 2012 The Bloodbath in Syria, February 2012 Related CBC Programs The Journey from Syria to Canada Landed: Six New Lives in Canada Refugee Camp: Simulating the Refugee Experience Refugee Students: The Lucky Ones Swimming to Freedom: The Incredible Story of Yahya Samatar (CBC Radio) Syria: Behind Rebel Lines Syrian Refugee Crisis: Lessons from Vietnamese Boat People Credits News in Review is produced by CBC News Resource Guide Writer: Jill Morris Resource Guide Editor: Sean Dolan Host: Michael Serapio Packaging Producer: Marie-Hélène Savard Associate Producer: Agathe Carrier Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone Visit us at our website at curio.ca/newsinreview, where you will find an electronic version of this resource guide and an archive of all previous News in Review seasons. As a companion resource, we recommend that students and teachers access CBC News Online, a multimedia current news source that is found on the CBC s home page at cbc.ca/news/. Closed Captioning News in Review programs are closed captioned for the hearing impaired, for English as a Second Language students, or for situations in which the additional on-screen print component will enhance learning. CBC Learning authorizes the reproduction of material contained in this resource guide for educational purposes. Please identify the source. News in Review is distributed by: CBC Learning Curio.ca, P.O. Box 500, Stn A, Toronto, ON, Canada M5W 1E6 Copyright 2016 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

3 News in Review October 2016 Teacher Resource Guide SYRIAN REFUGEES: Resettling the Farwans VIDEO REVIEW Before Viewing Imagine that you have been told that you must leave your home behind. You have a short time to select and pack only what you can easily carry. Using your school knapsack or book bag, fill it with the items that you would want or need to take with you on your journey. Physically pack your bag this will help you to visualize what you can actually fit and carry! Create a list of the items that you chose and bring that list with you to class. Teachers: If you want to increase the emotional impact of the exercise, you can ask students to bring the packed bags to class. Of course, this may not be a practical option so use your discretion. In a group of three or four, share your lists and/or packed bags with each other. Consider: What sorts of items were selected because they met particular physical needs? (hygiene, health, sustenance) What items were selected for comfort or emotional importance? What similarities and differences did you note between the contents of each person s bag? Write a short reflection on the experience of this activity. This activity does not come close to the experience of being forced to flee your home, but it does help you to imagine the difficult process of choosing what you can bring with you and what you would need to leave behind. In your reflection, consider whether there was anything about this activity that surprised you. How did you feel about making these choices? Length of reflection: words Viewing 1. For how many years have the Farwans been displaced from their home in Syria? 2. What are some of the everyday activities that the caseworker explains to the Farwans? 3. Describe the first moment when Khalil, the father of the Farwan family, knew that his family would be safe. News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 1

4 4. What contribution does Khalil make to the opening of his English classes? 5. What are some of the challenges that the children face as they try to integrate into their new schools? What is being done to help them? 6. How do the older Farwan boys feel about their parents? 7. What is the risk that refugees face in the first year of residence in their new country? 8. What sacrifices have Huda and Khalil made for their children? After Viewing 1. Create a list of the challenges that the Farwan family faces or will soon face as they settle into their new home in Lethbridge. News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 2

5 2. Before watching the video, you completed an exercise that asked you to think about what you would bring with you if you were forced to flee your home. Now, consider the ways in which Canada and Canadians can support Syrian families arriving in the country. Working with a small group, complete the following chart. Consider specific support that can be made available or offered at each level (one example has been provided in the first space on the chart). Federal/Provincial Local Community Individual E.g. English and/or French language programs E.g. Social outreach community events E.g. Helping a fellow student English conversation, tutoring After completing your work with your group, share your ideas with the rest of the class. Teachers: create a collective chart and record student answers there. Reflection Questions 1. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge that people who are refugees will face when settling in Canada? 2. How might this challenge be addressed on each level federal/provincial, local community and personal? News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 3

6 THE STORY Minds On 1. It is a humbling experience to struggle with basic communication especially when you also bear responsibility for a family. Make a list of all of the responsibilities that an adult must manage that require fairly advanced language skills. For example, acquiring a driver s license. What administrative problems might refugee families face as a result of a lack of English language skills? 2. Are there English language learner classes in your school? If so, what are your experiences with these classes? Identify some of the ways in which your school supports students who are in the process of learning English. OR If your school does not have specific classes for English language learners, what could teachers and fellow students do to support students who do not have English as their first language? READING ACTIVITY Try this! Begin an information and idea gathering Popplet (popplet.com/) and call it Syrian Refugee Crisis: Successful Integration. As you move through each section of the following text you can add information, ideas and questions for each subsection. Oh, Canada Grazing on an unassuming suburban yard, six deer look placidly into the camera lens. As the animals chew, the camera zooms in, framing this encounter that stands out for both its novelty and normalcy. Here, in Lethbridge Alberta, deer will often come and go as they please but this is likely Khalil Farwan s first deer sighting and it holds particular meaning for him. He described his thoughts that day: There s something really strange here. That a deer can walk in the streets and nobody bothers it. And I thought: the deer can live safely in this area. Even if the animal is vulnerable, it can survive. We felt safe. Safety Reclaiming safety for their family has been a long process for Khalil and Huda Farwan. Prodemocracy protests inspired by the hopeful political disruptions of the Arab Spring in Egypt and Tunisia began on March 15, 2011, in the Farwans hometown of Daraa, Syria. A little over a month later, Bashar al-assad s regime responded to the protests with a military siege of Daraa, killing hundreds including many children and arresting over people. Soon after, Khalil and Huda Farwan made the decision to move their family south into neighbouring Jordan. In Jordan, Khalil found a small rental unit for his family. They lived in close proximity to some of their extended family and supplemented the allowance they received from the U.N. refugee aid News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 4

7 agency by harvesting olives for a local farmer. Meanwhile, their eldest son chipped in when he found work as a mechanic. Although this arrangement offered greater security and family coherence than life in Syria (or in most other refugee settlements), it was only ever going to be a temporary situation. After navigating through the bureaucratic tangle that even an expedited process entails, the Farwan family eventually found themselves on a plane taking them away from the refugee settlement and bound for Canada. Responding to a crisis All Syrians claiming refugee status undergo a rigorous screening process with the UNHCR. Through interviews, background checks, and biological UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees identification technologies (which includes iris scanning), the UNHCR addresses any potential security concerns and identifies families that are especially vulnerable. The most vulnerable include women, children, the sick and the elderly. These families are recommended to participating government agencies that, upon selecting a family, facilitate specific plans for travel and settlement. It is expected that Canada will welcome approximately 44,000 refugees before the end of When the Liberals took office on November 4, 2015, they began the task they had set for themselves of welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada. By February 29, 2016, the goal had been reached and the Syrian refugees were settled into their new homes across Canada. The newcomers consisted of a combination of government-assisted refugees, those supported by private sponsorship initiatives, and a third blended approach in which government and private sponsorship shared the cost. By September 2016, Lethbridge, Alberta, had become home to over 200 people displaced by the years of violence and unrest in Syria. Most of the 200 people came to Canada via government sponsorship. The Farwan family accounted for ten in that overall number. For months, and perhaps years, the focus of the family s efforts had been on their arrival in Canada. They are safe now, but the long-term success of this move and for every family seeking refuge rests in their ability to integrate into their new home. Safety is a person s home Khalil Farwan Settling in The Farwans were among the first group selected for settlement in Canada under the Liberal government s sponsorship plan. Families like the Farwans receive up to a year of financial support equivalent to provincial social assistance amounts. With this amount which varies from province to province the family is expected to cover all of their expenses, including housing. In many cases, the amount allocated for housing is well below the cost of available rental units; additionally, the rental market in many areas is limited and highly competitive. In Lethbridge, it is easier to find and afford accommodation. While large urban areas potentially offer more support and opportunity for integration into a community, locations such as Toronto and Vancouver can be prohibitively expensive. Being able to secure stable housing is an important foundation for successful integration. Your community Research the social assistance rates in your community. How much assistance would a family such as the Farwans expect to receive? Now, research the rental market in your community. What percentage of a family s assistance would be spent on housing? What impact do you think this would have on a newly arrived refugee family? News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 5

8 Kawther, 2, seen here in the arms of her sister Yamama, 14, was born in Jordan and has never seen the Farwans' home in Syria. Language Both Huda and Khalil Farwan understand how important it is for them to learn English. While the children work on their English language skills at the local public school, Huda and Khalil attend community English classes alongside other adults, many in the same precarious position: knowing that financial security depends on their ability to speak at least one of the languages of their new country. Statistics indicate that 70 per cent of government sponsored refugees don t speak either English or French. While the Farwan family has been able to access English classes, this is not the case for many families. The Liberal government has budgeted $678 million over six years to fund Canada s response to the Syrian refugee crisis; $377 million, almost half of that amount, has been allotted to programs and services, such as English classes, aimed at settlement and integration. By the end of the summer of 2016, only a small portion of that money roughly $35 million had been distributed. Some families have been here in Canada for almost a year and have not yet been able to enroll in an English class. Organizations that offer English language programs have had to cancel classes because they have not received funding for the program. While everyone may have good intentions, and all are working hard to ensure The strain of adapting Most of the families from Syria that are settling in Canada have survived extremely difficult and often traumatic circumstances. Displaced by the unpredictable violence of civil unrest and, in many cases, targeted by their own country s military, families had little choice but to move into the uncertainty of life as a refugee. Khalil Farwan acted early in moving his family to Jordan but it is not difficult to imagine the strain that he was under. So much has rested on his shoulders. For most, the journey has been long and fraught with danger and loss. It can take years for the effects of trauma to manifest and so many Syrian parents, just like Khalil and Huda Farwan, have kept their feelings and fears in check for the sake of their children. Distant from the support system of family and friends, Huda and Khalil struggle against isolation and the stress of unrelenting responsibilities. Their children navigate all of the usual stresses of youth and school, all the while learning a new language. Whether Canada is prepared to recognize and offer the required mental health support remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that it will be needed. that needed supports are in place, bureaucracy often leads to miscommunication, disorganization and a painfully slow pace. This understanding does not change the fact that without adequate language skills, it is very difficult for newcomers to navigate the many challenges that they will encounter. Month 13 Polls indicate that only 60 per cent of Canadians believe that adequate supports are in place to aid newcomer families. Over the past year, food bank operators in major cities such as Toronto have reported a marked increase in the use of News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 6

9 their services, specifically by Syrian families. Beginning in November of 2016, refugee families will begin to enter Month 13, the first month beyond the promised year of federal government support. Some families may be well on their way to self-sufficiency but most will still be struggling. Despite cultural values that resist reliance on charity and long-term financial support, many will have no other option than to apply for provincial social assistance. Front-line settlement workers across Canada are calling for an extension of federal support in addition to a more coordinated roll out of language classes, job training and mental health services. Ultimately, the project to settle Syrian refugees in Canada will be judged by the nation s ability to follow through on delivery of the complex array of support that is vital to long-term happiness in their new country. Sources: 1. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (Spring 2015). Housing Market Information: Rental Market Report, Alberta Highlights. Retrieved from cmhc-schl.gc.ca 2. Friscolanti, M. (February 20, 2016). The Rajab family is home, at last. Maclean s. Retrieved from: macleans.ca/ 3. Friscolanti, M. (August 9, 2016). Getting Syrians here was easy. Now comes the hard part. Maclean s. Retrieved from: macleans.ca/ 4. Government of Canada. (September 21, 2016). Map of destination communities and service provider organizations. Retrieved from cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/welcome/map.asp 5. Levitz, S. (June 17, 2016). Job fair underscores Syrian refugees challenges. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from thestar.com/ 6. Turner, C. (May 3, 2016). Syrian refugees turn to food banks as they struggle to cope with high cost of living. CBC News. Retrieved from cbc.ca/news/ To Consider 1. Where would you begin? Which aspect of the integration process do you see as most important? Is there a particular support that is fundamental to the success of other efforts to ease transition and help families find long-term security? 2. The Farwan family has overcome many challenges throughout their journey. Explore the strengths that the family possesses and that you believe helped them to face and survive these challenges. Write your observations in a point form list (at least five points and explanations). 3. How would you assess the Farwan family s chances for successful integration? What is the most significant obstacle that they face? What advice would you offer to them? News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 7

10 AUDIO SNAP SHOT AND FLIPBOARD Try This! ACTIVITY #1: Audio Snap Shot Based on what you have learned, craft three (3) questions that you would like to have answered by members of your community with regards to the Syrian refugee crisis and Canada s response to it. Use these questions to interview a range of people in your community. Find the free app Twisted Wave (twistedwave.com/) or use any other online recording/editing program you have access to to create a short audio representation of your community s response to your questions. As a class, create a Google Doc (google.com/docs/about/) to compile a list of links to every students recording. Select at least one recording, other than your own, to listen and respond to. How would you characterize the general public s level of understanding both intellectual and emotional of the current reality for Syrian refugees in this country? Try This! ACTIVITY #2: Flipboard Continuing Crisis, Continuing Education The civil war in Syria continues and most people displaced by the violence and political maneuvering have not found refuge. Continue your exploration of the ongoing crisis using Flipboard (flipboard.com/), a site that will allow you to create your own magazine of selected news feeds. Create a Flipboard account. Using the search tool, enter the word Syria and select at least one available feed for news stories on Syria. This topic word is general enough that you will be able to choose from a variety of stories focusing on a range of issues such as refugee concerns, humanitarian aid, international political negotiations, military actions, etc. Find at least three different news articles on topics related to the Syrian conflict that you would like to know more about. After reading the articles, contribute to a class Google Doc (google.com/docs/about/) in which you summarize the articles that you read and describe at least one new perspective that you have arrived at from your reading. Respond to at least one of your classmates contributions on the Google Doc. News in Review CBC Learning curio.ca/newsinreview 8