SIXTH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP 8: Connecting Social and Human Capital: The Role of Voluntary Sector in Immigrant Integration

ORGANIZERS

Jean Lock Kunz (Ph.D)
Applied Research Branch
Human Resources Development Canada
165 Hotel de Ville, Hull, Quebec
Canada K1A 0J2
Jean.l.kunz@spg.org

Samuel Laryea (Ph.D)
Applied Research Branch
Human Resources Development Canada
165 Hotel de Ville, Hull, Quebec
Canada K1A 0J2
Samuel.laryea@spg.org

Fernando Mata (Ph.D)
Policy Research Bureau
Multiculturalism Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage
15 Eddy Street, 11th Floor, Hull, Quebec
Canada K1A 0M5
Fernando_mata@pch.gc.ca

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

As funding for settlement dwindles from the public sectors, the voluntary sector is playing an increasingly important role in immigrant integration. The voluntary sector facilitates the integration of immigrants by providing services to newcomers and by allowing them to participate in these organizations. The relation between the voluntary sector and immigrants is reciprocal. Newcomers contribute their time and/or money to charitable organizations, clubs, and places of worship. Through their philanthropic activities, immigrants build up their social capital by establishing social network and developing ties to their new community. This social capital is useful in enhancing the human capital that newcomers bring with them, i.e., education and skills.

Social capital (networks) and human capital (education and skills) complement each other. On the one hand, in times of declining social involvement in some developed countries, voluntary associations benefit from the knowledge and resource brought forth by its participants. On the other hand, individuals can enhance their economic performance through the social networks that they build up through these associations. Since newcomers tend to have fewer social networks than the native-born, voluntary associations could function as a pathway to paid employment. This workshop compares internationally the experience of the voluntary sector in integrating immigrants to the receiving country. Empirical evidence coming from immigrant receiving countries such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, the Netherlands and other European countries will be highlighted. It centres on the following questions:

1. Do some voluntary activities attract more immigrants than do others? Or, conversely, what types of voluntary organizations are more receptive to immigrants?
2. Do immigrants who volunteer tend to do better in employment and earnings than others?
3. With regard to the integration of immigrants and, what can policy makers learn from the voluntary sector's experience?
4. To what extent is the role of the voluntary sector in integration recognized by the public sector?
5. How can public, private, and non-government organizations work together to assist newcomers to integrate more quickly into the receiving country?

DURATION: 1.5 Hour.

PRESENTERS:

Tim Owen, World Education Services, Canada
Leo Davids, York University, Canada
Eva Østergard-Nielsen, London School of Economics, UK