Make a list of some of the challenges Syrian refugees are facing as they relocate to Canada. How does Mohammed assist the refugees to overcome these challenges through his work at the Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISS of BC)? How much in terms of resources should a country devote to helping people in that kind of a situation?

A Refugee’s Story

A REFUGEE’S STORY globalonenessproject.org ©2017 Global Oneness Project 2

SUBJECT AREAS

HIGH SCHOOL

• English Language Arts

• Geography

• Modern World Studies

• Psychology

• Sociology

COLLEGE

• English

• Geography

• History

• Psychology

• Sociology

THEMES

• Connection to home

• Cultural displacement

• Human rights

• Resilience

MATERIALS

• World map

• Online access to the film

• Equipment for

showing the film

PREPARATION

• None

Film: 20 minutes

Class: 60 minutes Key Idea

Millions of Syrian refugees are leaving their war-torn home in search

of safety and opportunity in other countries. Those who have suffered

the challenges of starting anew can have a powerful impact helping

others resettle.

Background

Since the Civil War in Syria began in 2011, millions of refugees have

been fleeing violence and searching for new homes in other countries.

As of March 2016, an estimated 11 million Syrians have been forced from

their homes, and 4.5 million—half of Syria’s population—have fled the

country.* More than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives, 13,000 of

them children.**

António Guterres, who served as United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees from 2005-2015, has declared the situation, “the great tragedy

of this century - a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering

and displacement unparalleled in recent history. The only solace is the

humanity shown by the neighboring countries in welcoming and

saving the lives of so many refugees.”

According to the UN Refugee Agency, the European Union welcomed

nearly a million Syrian refugees in 2015.*** The United States committed

to welcoming 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. According to the State

Department, 78 percent of those refugees were women and children.

The short film, Welcome to Canada, documents the story of Mohammed

Alsaleh, a young refugee who fled violence and imprisonment by the

Assad regime during Syria’s Civil War. He was granted asylum in Canada

and counsels newly arrived Syrian refugee families with the Immigrant

Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC). Mohammed is currently

building a new life, striving to bring his family to safety from Turkey. The

ISSofBC is a non-profit organization which serves the settlement and

integration for newcomers coming into Canada globally. The organization

is the same Vancouver-based NGO that aided Mohammed during his own

resettlement process. Between November 4, 2015, and October 23, 2016,

Canada’s government welcomed 33,239 Syrian refugees, and the number

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