Immigrants and refugees come to Canada seeking safety, opportunity, and a sense of belonging. However, when people face hate and discrimination simply for who they are, that promise of belonging can quickly turn into fear, uncertainty, and isolation. Especially for those who are already adjusting to a new land, unfamiliar systems and language barriers! To help address this, Refugee613, a communications hub for newcomers, created the You Belong Here anti-hate series.
You Belong Here is a collection of accessible, multilingual infographics designed to help newcomers to Canada understand what hate looks like, how to respond if they experience it, and where to find support. The resources are available not just in English and French, but in several other languages, including Swahili, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Hebrew, Chinese, Pashto, Dari, Vietnamese, Nepali, Somali and Turkish. View and download here.
“Providing accessible information is one of our core objectives at the Newcomer Info Hub [at Refugee613], and by making this available in 20 languages currently [with more being added soon], we hope to reach many more cultures and newcomer groups,” shares Temitope Salu, Content Specialist, Refugee613.
Also watch: Combat bias, racism, and discrimination at the workplace
Message for newcomers: Stay safe, get support, take action
The team shares that the infographic series was inspired by the Heartbeats of the Streets project — a community initiative led by the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre (PQCHC) in Ottawa, to address racism and discrimination in its neighbourhoods.
During the research phase, two key findings further fueled Refugee613’s purpose to develop an anti-hate series. First, to fill “the absence of a tool” that organizations could share with the vulnerable individuals and groups. Second, to “help victims know that they can seek support and report hate” incidents or crimes, without fearing losing their immigration status.
“Individuals are often navigating a brand new legal system where they do not always know how to identify or respond to a hate incident or a hate crime. [In our research], we also found massive fear regarding paperwork because people frequently worry that reporting a crime might harm their immigration status or lead to trouble with the government. Beyond legal concerns, hate can lead to deep isolation, a loss of belonging and other mental or physical health damages. This is particularly concerning right now as we see a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment across Canada, which makes people feel even more vulnerable and unwelcome,” says Temitope.
When someone is in crisis or feeling targeted, they should not have to fight through a wall of text or a language barrier.
We chose the infographic format for our three-part You Belong Here series specifically because it makes the information easy to reference and digest at a glance.
Focusing on the digital format also allows people to share the resources quickly within their own communities, whether they are printing a poster or sending a quick WhatsApp message to a friend.
— Refugee613 Team
Also watch: Highlights from Qissa Festival: Celebrating Newcomer & Refugee Writers
A joint anti-hate effort by organizations to build safer communities
The infographics for the You Belong Here series were created by Refugee613 in partnership with PQCHC with support and input from Ottawa Victim Services (OVS), Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), community organizations, faith groups, and newcomer-serving partners across Ottawa and beyond.
“We also reached out to the Ottawa Police Services, Stop Hate Alberta, and grassroots organizations like Suradway because their unique perspectives helped us identify the specific information gaps and barriers within the community. The infographics are a direct result of that collective knowledge and our shared commitment to community safety,” says Temitope. “This work was made possible through the Safer and Vital Communities (SVC) Grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.”
Also read: Moqadas’s journey of hope, community, and starting anew in Canada
How can you help? Move from being a bystander to an upstander
One of the infographics of this three-part anti-hate series underlines how each one of us can speak up to create safer, more welcoming communities. There are tips on how bystanders or witnesses can be upstanders or allies and safely take action against hate incidents.
“This part of the series was informed by our outreach to Stop Hate Alberta, which emphasized that involving the whole of society is essential for countering hate. We included the 5 Ds (Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, or Direct) of upstander intervention because their research shows that most people want to help, but are often afraid of making things worse,” adds Temitope.
“When a newcomer sees a stranger stand up for them, it breaks the feeling of isolation and proves that they really do belong here.”
Found this information useful? Share it with newcomers in your network.