Immigrants

ARE THERE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM SOPHIA'S STORY?

Sophia's trip from the Bahamas to Granby would be considered a smooth journey by most; a lot of immigrants have to overcome bigger obstacles and more frequently so then the ones that she encountered. Still, from her story, we can gain a better understanding of newly arrived immigrants; the struggles they have to face, and therefore an improved ability to help them. The struggle that stood out for Sophia was the emotional conflict. The feeling of nostalgia that she felt when she first arrived in Canada is common in anyone coming into a new environment, more so if that person in coming alone. Also, in Sophia's case, she did not encounter a language barrier because she initially immigrated to an English-speaking province, but when she moved to Granby, she experienced what most immigrants go through when coming to another country. As citizens of a country welcoming immigrants from all over the world, we could learn to be more patient and open-minded towards newcomers especially when it comes to their speaking and understanding.

HOW CAN WE PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES INTEGRATE AND HELP THEM AVOID POVERTY?

The best way to help immigrants and refugees integrate into our community is simply by wanting them to and by wanting to help them feel more welcomed. The biggest obstacle to their integration is the discrimination and prejudice they are victim of. Most new immigrants don't know how to function in our society since it is probably very different from what they are used to. Ergo, little neighbourly gestures here and there could be equally beneficial to their understanding of our way of life than one big organized event. From showing them the best places to shop for what they are looking for, to teaching them a little of the language or telling them what they will need to be prepared for winter, actions don't have to be big to be relevant and helpful.

SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE/GET INVOLVED IN HELPING IMMIGRANTS INTEGRATE OR SHOULD WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE PROFESSIONALS?

I think it would be best for immigrants if, for the first few weeks, they had support and help from professional because at first, they need some technical information about the country like taxes and the value of money. Professional would provide an assistance better adapted to their particular needs. However, I think that once they get a good start, everyone should get involved in helping immigrants integrate socially into our community. As a newly arrived immigrant in an unknown country, I think I would feel more comfortable getting help from experienced professionals. I would feel more confident in the information they would give me. Still, I think that getting help from the population could be more significant in the social integration process because it would make immigrants feel more welcomed and accepted. They have a better chance to strive in our society if they feel that people want them to succeed.