Community Cornerstones: Challenges and Successes of Canadian Service Providers in Supporting Syrian Refugees

The Syrian Civil War in 2011 left millions of Syrian people displaced throughout the world. Canada welcomed a significant number of Syrian refugees to resettle in numerous communities across the country. This study examined the services provided to Syrian refugees, with the goal of identifying the types of services available, resources the services have, and challenges these organizations have experienced. Recorded semi-structured interviews with 10 representatives from various organizations in Southern Ontario (Toronto and Guelph-Wellington) were conducted. Thematic analysis was utilized to highlight patterns in data collection. Services offered to Syrian refugees fell under several categories: information and orientation, language acquisition, employment, settlement and social services, and health services. Strengths of the organizations were identified as: various tools for language development, successful employment, multiple resources in one location, the progress of Syrian children, community engagement, and specialized training. Challenges included difficulties in servicing refugees located in rural areas, explanation of employment hierarchy, difficulties with volunteer engagement, housing, and funding. This study helps to identify and understand the effectiveness of services that are provided to Syrian refugees and is the first phase in the overall goal of increasing Syrian refugee integration into Canadian society.