Refugee Integration Program Officer, Federal government
Children, Childhood & Youth 2017

I graduated with a BEd and BA in Children, Childhood & Youth (CCY) Studies from York University in 2017. While studying at York, I took a research-based course in anthropology and travelled to Greece to conduct ethnographic research with child refugees from Iraq and Syria.

After graduation, I obtained a Master’s of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies at Ryerson University to continue working in partnership with children, advocating for their rights, well-being and future. I examined the impact of migration and the intersectionality of cultures on children’s merging and emerging identities.

Toward the end of this Master’s degree, I entered a paper competition in affiliation with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). My paper commented on cross-cultural therapeutic measures for children with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This resulted in my transition to my current position as an Integration Program Officer. As a federal employee, I work in partnership with Ontario service provider organizations who integrate newcomers through funded settlement programs.

I was then offered a job as a research assistant who works directly with refugee-youth populations, collecting and analyzing data.

I am also an Ontario Certified Teacher and work part-time as a tutor. My long-term career objectives include research, advocacy, teaching, authorship and policy development. My past, current, and future career trajectory would not have been possible without the foundational knowledge and support acquired through the CCY program at York University.