As an Immigrant who came to Canada at the age of 12, I have experienced the challenges of adjusting to a new country with limited social, financial and emotional support. My parents sacrificed so much for the well being of me and my siblings that it often left them emotionally depleted. They did everything to ensure that we were well looked after, that there was a roof over our head, food on the table, values to remind us of our heritage and faith. Yet, in the midst of all this effort, what worked for how my parents were parented, did not always work with me.

The cultural differences of growing up in a different country, with a different language, different perspectives, different ideology and different faiths, all meant that both me and my parents were in uncharted waters. We had not been here before. We were in unfamiliar territory.

We learned along the way, mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and we figured out a way.

This course is an exploratory endeavour to share some of the best practices in parenting that assisted me in my experiences as a youth in Canada.

My lived experience as an immigrant youth is complimented by my academic experience through a Master of Arts in Immigration and Settlement Studies. As a Registered Social Worker, I have worked with newcomer and racialized communities for over 10 years. You will find my Tedx Talk in this lesson which discusses the immigrant experience in more detail.

Attached to this lesson also, you will find my Major Research Paper which explored the experiences of immigrant with community and settlement organizations. The paper explores in dept the needs of youth and the supports required to ensure all the sacrifices that you as parents make for the well being of your children - are able to come to fruition.

I hope you enjoy the course and find it of benefit!

Regards,

Nabeel Rahman, MA, RSW