On average, immigrants tend to be better educated than non-immigrant Canadians, an outcome that is at least partly due to Canada’s immigrant selection rules in the economic stream, which favour education. Yet, Canadian studies  show that a lack of supports before, during and after the formal educational process leads to limited job opportunities, with persons of colour and Blacks (many of whom are immigrants) comprising an estimated 50% of those who are precariously employed (Block & Galabuzi, 2018). Over the past six years our research has shown that while many students face academic challenges in transitioning to high school and university, including those related to course selection, a lack of guidance both at school and home when making decisions is particularly pronounced for Black African youth with refugee backgrounds. Beyond mentorship and tailored information about educational choices and career possibilities, African youth also need the tools, training, and confidence to make their own educational and career decisions. This lecture will provide an overview of our research with African youth, highlighting projects designed with our community partners to build the skills and confidence among the youth and their parents to make decisions that affect their education and lives.

Laurier Milton Lecture Series: The Education and Labour Market Transitions of African Youth with Refugee Backgrounds in Canada