ACCT in partnership with the CAI and York University Launch Community-Based Research Project
Toronto – The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT) in partnership with the Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) and York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) is proud to announce the launch of the JOSOOR research project. Josoor (“Bridges” in Arabic) examines how to leverage technologies to support remote services to facilitate the integration of Arab and Sub-Saharan African newcomer and refugee women.
This multi-year project has three phases. The first phase is a needs assessment; the research team is conducting an in-depth survey and focus groups to understand the settlement service and technology gaps and needs of the intended users of these services. In the second phase, the research team will build a prototype for virtual settlement service delivery based on the needs assessment. In the third phase, we will use a randomized controlled trial to pilot test the prototype to evaluate its strengths and possible improvements.
This project is led by the ACCT and funded by the Department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. We are grateful for the Principal Investigator, Dr. Michaela Hynie, from CRS. We also look forward to working alongside several other community members and organizations, such as settlement organizations, community associations, and tech startups, to ensure the success of this project.
" We at the ACCT are pleased to work with our many partners on the JOSOOR Project to bring all stakeholders together to leverage technology to expand our services and further empower newcomer and refugee women to better integrate into the Canadian community," - Bashaer Ismail from the Arab Community Centre of Toronto
“During the pandemic, our lives became digital and virtual in order to connect with our loved ones. JOSOOR is important because we need to ensure that those who are marginalized in our community also have access to the digital world to foster those connections” - Jad El Tal from the Canadian Arab Institute
“The pandemic highlighted the potential of technology to enhance access to services for newcomers, but also some of the challenges. I am excited to learn more about how we can build on what we have learned and make the services newcomers need even more accessible.” - Dr. Hynie from York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies.
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Press Contact
Jasmine Hawamdeh, CAI Manager of Communications and Operations jasmine@canadianarabinstitute.org, 647-695-3339
About the Canadian Arab Institute
The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) is a national, non-partisan think-and-do-tank that is focused on the issues and interests of the Canadian Arab community. The Institute produces important research reports and develops community programming to help the general Canadian public understand what the Arab-Canadian experience is in Canada. For years, they have been advocating for a federal Arab Heritage Month as they work across the aisle to try to have this Bill pass through the legislative process.
About The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT)
The Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT) is a not-for-profit organization with charitable status and is non-political and non-sectarian. The ACCT is proud to be a focal point for all Arab and non-Arab communities in which they can find an outlet for settlement and social services.