The social and educational challenges Syrian refugee families face in Montreal

Purpose Typically, Canada accepts approximately 25,000 refugees from various nations annually. Around 40,000 Syrian refugees arrived in Canada between November 2015 and the end of January 2017. Multiple factors can negatively influence the sociocultural adaptation of Syrian refugee families in Canada, such as language barriers, limited access to health services, limited employment opportunities and challenges in developing a social network and finding social support in the host country. Thus, this study aims to explore the challenges in adaptation that newly resettled Syrian refugee families are facing in Montréal, Québec. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were completed with eight Syrian refugee mothers regarding their experiences and needs. Themes were derived through thematic analysis of the qualitative data. Findings The themes “Relational isolation of refugee families in education contexts,” “Loss of foundation and attachment to the past for adult refugees” and “Intensified emotion work post-resettlement” emerged from the semi-structured interviews. Future research should focus on language education and social support for adult refugees, as well as refugee mothers’ well-being and social support needs and their experiences vis-à-vis emotion work and coping. Research limitations/implications Future research must investigate the experiences and needs of refugee mothers more specifically, as they carry a disproportionate responsibility of emotion work through and after resettlement. More research focusing on social support and positive relationship building within the host country society is needed. Practical implications Language education services, particularly for adult refugees, must be embedded in community-building that allows for more naturalistic learning and practice of the local language. Language barriers remain a central obstacle for refugees who are not adequately supported and equipped in their learning. Social implications Refugee adults, and particularly mothers, require more opportunities for building social networks and gaining community and social support. Broader efforts of awareness and sensitivity to the experience of refugee families are required in social and educational institutions. Originality/value The present study presents a bottom-up qualitative account of the challenges in adaptation newly resettled refugee families are facing. The experiences of refugee mothers are unique, as both being a refugee and a mother bring about specific risk factors and challenges.