The Well-Being of Kenyan-Canadian Parents and Youth Living in Mixed Families in Montreal

The Kenyan-born author examines the well-being of Kenyan-Canadian parents and youth living in ethnically- and racially-mixed families in Montreal. The objectives of her thesis were to determine whether there are challenges unique to immigrants belonging to small ethnic communities (only 146 Kenyans immigrated to Quebec between 2008 to 2012) and living in racially- and ethnically-mixed families, and to educate policy makers and health practitioners as to needs that may be specific to this understudied group. The author found that the five families who participated in the study generally seem to be adapting well to life in Montreal, although the experience of racism and difficulty with language policies do generate some stress. Interviews were conducted in English and Kiswahili, the two national languages of Kenya, and in Sheng, an urban "slang" engendered in Nairobi, favoured by Kenyan youth. The author found that the parents have taken advantage of possibilities afforded by other immigrant communities with greater institutional completeness to promote the well-being of their children. The author concludes that this suggests that an important role can be played by established immigrant communities in welcoming and assisting individual migrants without a receiving community, even when ethnic affiliation may be lacking.

Master's Thesis

McGill University

Montreal

2014

viii-113p.

en