Syrian refugees face challenges accessing childcare in Kamloops

After one year of being in Canada, most of the 11 Syrian families who are living in Kamloops, B.C., are still struggling to find work and childcare.

Kamloops Immigrant Services has been working with most of the refugees to help provide English language classes. Executive director Paul Lagac has seen the challenges they face trying to get established within the year allocated to them by the federal government.

"If you don't have a job, it's very difficult for you to go looking for work if you have no place for your children to be," he said.

"Ithas a greater impact on their potential success rate of establishing and settling because they are on a pretty strict timeline."

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Refugees face greater challenges

Lagacsays the newcomers face additional challenges because of the situations they left behind. He says because many are coming from refugee camps, it may not be clear if the children are dealing with significant physical, emotional or developmental issues until they come to Canada.

"As well, there'sseparationissues between the children and the parents," Lagacsaid. "Children are afraid to leave their parents' side."

Right now,KamloopsImmigrant Services offerschild-minding servicesso parents can attend courses provided by the group, butLagacsays it doesn't meet the larger need.

"It's not like you just come in and drop your child off and go away.The parent is on site so when the parent does go to work, the unfortunate thing is that we cannot offer daycare for that timeframe."

Wait-lists common

The challenge to find childcare is not unique to refugee families.JanisArnerdirects the Childcare Resourcesand Referral Early Years Centre with the YM/YWCA inKamloops. Shesays there is a shortage of spots across the city.

"It's very typical for families to encounter a lot ofwait-listswhere they go and it takes time," she said.

She says it will likely take weeks, if not months, to find a space time that refugees might not have.

"If you're new ... a refugee," she said, "It's just one more big challenge."

Lagacsays he would like to see anational daycare program that could provide affordable childcare options across the country.

KamloopsImmigrant Services is expecting more Syrian families to arrive this month and another family who will arrive in January.

With files from Daybreak Kamloops

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