Abstract
Using PhotoVoice, this research explored the
settlement experiences of refugee youth who have exited high school and are in a program designed by
an Albertan school board to support their language and academic needs. Newcomer youth
encounter profound academic and social stresses as they attempt to create a new identity and
sense of belonging in their new home. This project examined what it means for refugee youth to recuperate a place of belonging. By focusing on the notion of belonging rather than barriers to settlement, the findings revealed that at the core of the youth’s efforts, connecting to people, especially in school, in addition to connecting to the natural world, fostered feelings of well-being and belonging. Educational
implications include recommendations for schools and teachers supporting newcomer youth.
