Josoor (“Bridges” in Arabic) examines how to leverage existing technologies in facilitating the integration of Arab and Sub-Saharan African refugee and newcomer women through virtual and remote settlement services.
This project is led by the ACCT and funded by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). We are grateful to have Dr. Michaela Hynie from York University's Centre for Refugee Studies be a part of the research team by designing the research instruments. 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.
Importance of Josoor
COVID-19 showed us how difficult it is for marginalized members in our community to access the services they need to help them overcome systemic barriers in their integration into Canada. This project seeks to increase digital access among participants to empower them to make informed choices and decisions during their process of settlement in Canada.
Timeline
December 2021 to March 2024
This multi-year project has three phases. The first phase is a needs assessment, where the research team is conducting an in-depth survey and focus groups to effectively understand the gaps and evaluate the needs of the intended users of these services. Then, the research team will build a prototype based on the needs assessment, in order to fill the experience gaps. Finally, we will be piloting the prototype through a randomized controlled trial in order to evaluate the successes and improvements of the prototype.
CAI Research Team
Project Manager: Jad El Tal
In his capacity as CAI’s Director of Research and Policy, Jad is leading this study as the project manager.
Jad El Tal oversees all research projects and policy files at the Canadian Arab Institute (CAI). In 2018, Jad had the opportunity to see this relationship between government and community unfold at Queen’s Park, as part of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP), where he worked with both government and opposition Members of Provincial Parliament. In 2021, he completed a Master’s of Public Policy from SciencesPo - Paris, and a Master’s of Global Affairs from the Munk School at the University of Toronto. His Masters’ was fully funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) through his sensitive research on the impact of transportation policies in Lebanon. Read more about Jad’s experience here!
Research Assistant: Ghaidaa Arbash
Research Manager: Yusur Al-Salman
Yusur Al-Salman is a graduate student at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, where she is completing an MA degree in Adult Education and Community Development supported by the SSHRC. Her research examines the co-creation of alternative learning spaces in the settlement sector . In addition to her current studies, she holds a BA in Politics and Sociology (Hons.) from the University of Essex and MSc in Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
In her role as Research Manager of Josoor, she supports the research team through the running of the research project, providing logistical support, reimbursement tracking, and liaising with partners. Yusur has extensive experience working on projects focusing on the social determinants of health and the integration needs of Syrian refugees, especially women, in Jordan.
In her free time, Yusur enjoys listening to podcasts, playing video games, and exploring new places.
Research Assistant: Salwa Zahra
Research Assistant: Tahseen Chowdhury
During the research instruments production phase, Tahseen wrote an extensive literature review on the areas of remote service delivery and technological/digital needs in Canada. Tahseen’s thorough research allowed us to identify the gaps in the literature so that Josoor can fill them.
Tahseen Chowdhury (she/her) is a 1.5 generation immigrant with roots in Zambia and Bangladesh. Trained as a policy practitioner, Tahseen seeks to equalize power imbalances and integrate identity-affirming approaches in policy design and service delivery for newcomers, refugees and immigrants in Canada. Tahseen holds a Master's in Public Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. She is thrilled to support the Josoor Project and contribute to CAI's efforts in enhancing settlement and integration outcomes for vulnerable newcomers.
Research Assistant: Nevin Alqishawi
Contact
To get involved either as a researcher or participant, please email research@canadianarabinstitute.org.