Karina Hayat was only 11 when her family fled poverty and civil warĀ in Guatemala and sought refuge in Canada.Ā TheyĀ settled in Vancouver, where Karina still lives. Starting a new life in Canada wasn’t easy at first, but Karina was determined to learn English and work towards starting her own business.
A former refugee, KarinaĀ now runs a multi-million dollar marketing company with her husband, Zeeshan Hayat. She has come a long way since her arrival in Canada back in 1991, and Karina attributes herĀ success in part toĀ the country’s multicultural and hospitable environment.
While Canada continues to welcomeĀ asylum seekers,Ā mainly from war-torn Syria, to help them build a new life as Canadians, refugees arriving inĀ other parts of the world aren’t alwaysĀ met with suchĀ warm reception.
International Reaction To Refugees
TheĀ ever-increasing influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East hasĀ prompted some EuropeanĀ countries toĀ closeĀ down their borders and introduce stricter immigration policies. In Southeast Asia, thousands of Rohingya MuslimsĀ fleeing religious persecution in Myanmar areĀ also facingĀ tough asylum policies upon arriving in Indonesia, ThailandĀ and Malaysia.Ā As a result, manyĀ refugees enter foreign territoriesĀ under aĀ cloud of uncertainty, having no clueĀ what life will be like in their adopted country, or what to expect.
Cultural, economic and social conditions play a key role in determiningĀ aĀ refugee’s sense of belonging in a new country. A thriving economy and high standards of living mayĀ helpĀ asylum seekersĀ build a new life, but their integration in society is sometimes impeded byĀ other factors, the media being one of them.
Media Coverage Of The Refugee Crisis
A powerful tool in shapingĀ public opinion, the mainstream pressĀ has been a leading agent in influencing general attitudes towards refugees.Ā Besides garnering sympathy for asylum seekers, news coverageĀ also has the power, through misrepresentation and propaganda, to stimulate hostilityĀ towards refugees. In light of this,Ā refugees’ ability toĀ establish a new identity and integrate in a host society partly hinges on their portrayal in the media.
The latest wave of refugees has generated TV debates and press reportage from different approaches. At the same time asĀ sexual attacks allegedly committedĀ by refugees madeĀ the headlines in European news portals, other journalists were bringing us humanĀ stories fromĀ refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey.
According to UNHCR report on press coverage of the refugee crisis in the EU, refugee voicesĀ in theĀ UK press receive less exposureĀ than political sources and citizen voices. With regards to commonĀ refugee themes in the British press,Ā the study found that the majority of newspapers mainly focus onĀ migration figures, search and rescueĀ operations, and the reception or rejection of refugees. Humanitarian themes,Ā such as insights into theĀ ordeals of asylum seekersĀ and success stories of refugees, are mostlyĀ prevalentĀ in left-wing newspapers, but their presence in the press remainsĀ eclipsed by statistics of refugee arrivals and population growth.
How The Media Affects Refugees’ Sense Of Belonging After Relocation
Twenty-five years after being granted asylum in Canada, Karina doesn’t see herself as a refugee anymore, but identifies herself as a Canadian. HerĀ integration process was largely unaffected by the media’s portrayal of asylum seekers, but today refugee issues getĀ more news coverage than they did two decades ago.Ā Nevertheless, Karina believes that this widespread media attentionĀ doesnāt hinder refugees from movingĀ to a safe country andĀ adaptingĀ to aĀ new culture. Despite the dangers and obstacles that are often depicted in the mainstream press,Ā thousands of asylum seekersĀ continue risking their lives toĀ reach safety.
The media’s choice of words when reporting on asylum seekers has a significant impact on refugees’ identity. The terms migrant and refugee have been used interchangeably by some media outlets, blurring the distinction between people who have left their countryĀ in search of work and better prospects, and those who fleeĀ their homes because their life is in jeopardy. Misrepresenting refugees not only undermines their plight, but it also diminishes their chances of being accepted by society.
NegativeĀ portrayal of refugees in the mainstream press exacerbates stigma and hostility, andĀ sensational reportsĀ often present asylum seekers as economic opportunists, potential criminals andĀ a threat toĀ national security. In Europe, the media’s continuous reportageĀ on criminal activityĀ by refugees has sparked anti-refugee protests across the continent and led to an increase inĀ violence against asylum seekers.
Misrepresenting #refugees undermines their plight. Here's how. #good Click To TweetMakingĀ A DifferenceĀ
Growing up as aĀ refugee has taught Karina to become more resourceful, and her experience helps her relate more to the challengesĀ faced by asylum seekersĀ arriving in Canada. The entrepreneur highlights the importance of understanding the value of refugees and appreciating the skillsĀ they bring to a new country, something thatĀ we don’t often hear inĀ the media. Canada has givenĀ KarinaĀ and her siblings the opportunity toĀ develop theirĀ potential, and the former refugee now wants to giveĀ back to society.
Together with her husband, Karina is sponsoring a Syrian family to help themĀ start a new life in Canada. She hopes that their support will help the family integrate intoĀ Canadian society as soon as possible and, just like Karina,Ā they willĀ have the opportunity to realize their dreams.
If you want to help by sponsoring a refugee or refugee family, or by getting involved in another way, visit resources like:
- Sponsor A Refugee (for Canadians)
- The UN Refugee Agency. Some ways to help through this agency include making a donation, supporting special events, getting active online and volunteering.
- Sign this Change.org petition to allow US citizens to sponsor refugee families
- Check out these groups working to help refugees
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