“I feel like a human again:” Experiences of Kurdish Asylum Seekers Navigating the Legal and Education Systems in Canada

The role of resettlement services, in particular language education programs, has become crucial in helping newcomers’ transition to a new life in Canada. In the last 5 years, Canada experienced a high influx of asylum claimants arriving from Turkey. Despite of increasing numbers, there have been no studies that have explored their post-migration experiences in Canada. Through using an arts-informed approach, the post-migration experiences of Kurdish and Turkish asylum claimants, between the ages of 18–30, were explored. In focus groups, they presented and interpreted their experiences using different art forms. This paper focuses in-depth on the experiences of two asylum claimants as they sought educational opportunities and language learning spaces while navigating the legal system. It was found that due to their legal status as well as systemic barriers, they faced limited educational and language learning opportunities. A holistic approach to resettlement will be effective in addressing the educational needs of individuals from refugee backgrounds.