Newcomers to Quebec City turn pop stars in viral video clip

Clever lyrics, a catchy chorus, a punchy Afro beat, even their own signature choreography Je suis lhas all the makings ofa summer hit.

The creatorsare nottop music executives in some far-offHollywood office. They are a group of 17 refugee students between the ages of nineand 12fromQuebec City's Saint-Maloelementary school.

The class launched the video clip forJe suis l at the end of June, expecting to get "100 views,tops,"according totheir teacher Nancy Fall, who is behind the project.

Instead, in its first two weeks,it's been seen more than 12,400 times on YouTube.

One of those views came from Rachel Baraka's relatives,thousands of kilometres away, in Congo.

"They criedbecause they're so proud," saidRachel, one of the students who co-wrote the song and performedin the video clip.

Rachel and her twin brother David left Congo in 2016 with their mother. When they landed in Quebec, they were stunned to see "enormous houses,"all covered in white.

"I didn't even realize snow fell from the sky!" said David.

The siblings spoke three languages but notFrench when they were enrolled in Saint-Malo's integration class, which helps new students learn French and adjust tothe Quebec curriculum.

Their teacher said seeing their progress over the past three years has been "crazy."The twins, now 12, will be moving into the regular school program in September.

"I still can't watch the video without crying," said Fall."It really touched me."

The song grapples withthe conflicted feelings students at Saint-Malo have experienced, leaving behind their country and their friendsin countries as farflung asSyria, Tanzania, Thailand andUkraine.

Fall said David explained to her his vision for the song,reflecting the ups and downs he's felt since moving to Quebec.

My heart gets bigger, like a ball that bounces, David sings in the video clip, proudly kicking around his cherished soccer ball.

We are here

T'es-tu d'ici? T'es-tu de l? the song asks.

Are you from here? Are you from there?

That question of identity is one Fall tackles with her students through workshops and roundtable discussionsin her classroom, exploring theirsense of belonging and experiences with separation, war and death.

Fall reached out to Quebec City artists who helpedbuild a soundtrack to carry the students' words.

My feet are here, My mind is back there, My heart gets bigger, Here I am.- Chorus for

Despite busy schedules and record launches, artists like King Abid, KNLO, Caroline Dupont andLudovic Dub went into Fall's class several times over a four-month periodto meet with students and work on musical arrangementsand studio recordings.

"But the real core of the project," said Fall, was the students themselves.

Local filmmaker Jepherson Guillaume then filmeda video clip in May, capturing the kids' skilled dance moves what Fall described as"part of their DNA."

"Sometimes I'm writing onthe board, and when I turn around there's someone dancing, so it's [there] all the time," she said.

Do I have a place here? YES

The students were also the ones who came up with the idea of having a child walking through the woods with a small bag, singing J'arrive au Canada, kess a? What is this?

Fall said they wantedto reflecttheir own path, filled with uncertainty.

"We have to show that we come here with small suitcases," she said they told her. Some students didn't even know what country would accept their refugee claim and where they would be going, until the very last moment.

Fallwanted the song to speak for itself, becoming part of the fabric of thesometimes inflammatory debate surrounding immigration and refugees in Quebec.

"It was important for methat people see what is happening inside my class," said Fall. "All I see is beauty."

While she is the first personmany refugee children meet when they enter the school system, Fall said the students themselves are also key to helping others feel welcome.

"I have Catholic kids, Muslim kids, and they just bond together for them there'sno wall between people and I want that message to be carried in that video clip."

Twelve-year-old Rachel also hopes that spirit comes through.

"I'm proud of my class. We're fantastic.We welcome newcomers, and we're nice with everyone."