The Pathways to Kindness Conference at University of Toronto Mississauga: Developing Policies for Refugee and Newcomer Children’s Health and Flourishing

The Centre for Child Development, Mental Health and Policy (CCDMP), in collaboration with St. Francis Xavier University and the Rohingya Centre of Canada, hosted The Pathways to Kindness Conference from August 22 – 24, 2024 at the University of Toronto Mississauga, in the Maanjiwe nendamowinan (MN) building.

The Pathways to Kindness Conference was a three-day event dedicated to sharing and discussing research, practice, and policy efforts aimed to promote positive social and emotional development in refugee and newcomer children, with a focus on the Rohingya community. The key aims of the conference were to:

1. Raise awareness of cutting-edge research and intervention work related to supporting healthy development in refugee children.
2. Synthesize and discuss critical next steps for policy efforts in this area.
3. Bring together different communities, including members of the Rohingya community, community advocates, and those from humanitarian, policy, and research sectors.

The conference kicked off the evening of Thursday, August 22, with an Opening Address by Dr. Tina Malti (University of Toronto Mississauga, Leipzig University), the Founding Director of CCDMP. Dr. Malti discussed the implications of using developmental research to inform policy. She began her address with a question: “How can we become kind and caring in an age of division?”

Dr. Malti identified empathy and emotion regulation as protective factors that buffer against the negative effects of adversity and trauma on mental health. Her research suggests that when children have the tools to cope with challenging emotions, they have greater capacity to show empathy, which in turn supports their capacity for kindness. Dr. Malti also emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing the specific needs of the community while acknowledging the shared protective roles of kindness and supportive relationships across contexts. both of which are crucial for informing social policy. 

Day 1 of the conference began with a virtual Invited Address by Honorary Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the UN. During his address, Ambassador Rae discussed factors involved in the global refugee crisis, and Canada’s responsibility to respond in a manner that reinforces the basic rights of refugees and supports their access to education and work opportunities.

A symposium followed Ambassador Rae’s virtual address, featuring presentations from Saifullah Muhammad (Rohingya Centre of Canada), Dr. Tara Callaghan (St. Francis Xavier University), Dr. John Corbit (St. Francis Xavier University), Dr. Melis Yavuz-Müren (Algoma University), and Dr. Bruce Homer (The City University of New York Graduate Center). The symposium was chaired by Dr. Tina Malti (University of Toronto Mississauga, Leipzig University).

During his presentation, Saifullah Muhammad highlighted the Rohingya experience and emphasized the need for more academic research to inform policy efforts, such as the research being spotlighted by the Pathways to Kindness Conference. Next, Dr. Tara Callaghan shared promising findings from an intervention fostering prosocial development in Rohingya children living in a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Callaghan et al., in press). Dr. John Corbit explored factors influencing children’s prosocial behaviour, especially their cooperation, in refugee contexts. Dr. Melis Yavuz-Müren discussed the critical role of parenting in adverse contexts, and key considerations for research and intervention efforts that aim to support parents in refugee camps. Finally, Dr. Bruce Homer shared innovative insights related to the use of sustainable, low-tech, and community-driven digital interventions that aim to foster healthy social-emotional development in refugee children. Together, these talks underscored that children show great potential for prosociality despite adversity, and the importance of research-informed, culturally responsive interventions to support Rohingya children and families in refugee camp settings. 

Following lunch, the afternoon session began with an Invited Address by Jean-Nicolas Beuze (UN Representative for EU Affairs) and Dr. Tina Malti. They discussed how researchers can effectively collaborate with humanitarians, practitioners, and community members to conduct high-quality and culturally sensitive research to inform long-term, sustainable approaches in refugee camp settings.

The final event of Day 1 was a panel discussion, which featured Dr. Tara Callaghan as the chair and five panelists who shared their knowledge, experience, and perspectives. The first panelist, Dr. Nishat Fatima, worked with BRAC Mental Health and Psychosocial Services in Cox’s Bazar,discussed the critical roles of practitioners such as paraprofessionals, psychologists, and mental health experts in supporting refugee well-being in the camps. Three members of the Rohingya community–Tasmida Johar, Rahima Khushi, and John Jonaid–shared their lived experiences and insights. Tasmida Johar shared and reflected on her story, from being born in Burma, to moving to a refugee camp in Bangladesh in 2005, to being awarded a full scholarship to study political science in Canada. Rahima Khushi shared her experiences growing up with limited access to education in the refugee camp in Bangladesh, to becoming a language research officer and translator. John Jonaid emphasized that Rohingya people have great potential, but also need to be empowered with the tools and resources to advocate for themselves and their community.

“[We are] not always victims, if we get a chance, we can also change the world.” 

- Tasmida Johar

To conclude the panel discussion, Dr. Tina Malti highlighted that the perspectives and lived experiences of community members are crucial for shaping future research, practice, and policy efforts aimed at fostering pathways to kindness.  

Dr. Ruthie Speidel kicked off Day 2 of the conference by sharing highlights from the previous day. Next, the attendees divided into two workshop groups to: 

1. Discuss the practical implications and next steps from the conference.
2. Brainstorm collaboration-based activities designed to foster kindness in refugee camp contexts.

A roundtable discussion followed the workshops, bringing both groups together to share insights, discuss contributions, and identify actionable next steps. Both workshop groups came together for a roundtable discussion to share insights, discuss contributions, and identify actionable next steps. 

Saifullah Muhammad provided final remarks to conclude the conference, emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts in this area and outlining the next steps to strengthen the Rohingya community. He hopes to strengthen the sense of identity among the Rohingya community in Canada, “so youth can understand who we are as Rohingya refugees, where we came from, what we need to contribute to our community".

Download the conference brochure here.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the authors of the Monograph Matters paper (Callaghan et al., in press ), members of the Rohingya Centre, CCDMP planning committee, CCDMP volunteers, and our invited speakers, panelists, and facilitators. We would also like to thank our amazing students, staff, faculty, and community members for attending and collaborating with us at the conference. 

The Pathways to Kindness Conference is supported by funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connections Grant awarded to Dr. Tara Callaghan (PI), and collaborators Dr. Tina Malti, Saifullah Muhammad, and Dr. Ruth Speidel.