From Isolation to Integration: Building a Sense of Belonging in a New Environment

By Soraya Amiri

Soraya Amiri is an experienced media professional and women’s rights advocate with over five years of journalism experience in print, radio, and television in Afghanistan and Canada. In 2022, Soraya received a one-year fellowship from The Walrus as a Journalist-in-Residence under a Journalists for Human Rights and Meta program. Soraya holds a master’s in international relations and a bachelor’s in political science. Since moving to Canada, she has continued to advocate for women’s rights through her work and writing. Soraya is fluent in Dari and English. 

In this report, Soraya explores how newcomers experience the process of settling in Canada. Drawing on interviews with immigrants and service providers, it examines the systems and supports that influence whether newcomers are able to build a sense of belonging in their new communities.

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