The Cinematheque

In her native Afghanistan, Liza’s determination to attend school resulted in death threats. For Faiza, a Somalian refugee displaced to Kenya, education wasn’t something her family could afford. Newcomers to the U.S., Liza and Faiza, both now 14, are inseparable best friends at the Nahed Chapman New American Academy, a unique public school in St. Louis, Missouri, catering exclusively to refugees and immigrants. A student-centred program of education, accelerated English training, cultural acclimatization, and PTSD intervention provides the kids (many traumatized from years living in conflict zones or refugee camps) with ​“a soft place to land,” as one teacher describes it. Filmed over the course of a year, Day One chronicles the ups and downs of a group of teens from the Middle East and Africa, and tacitly demonstrates what can be achieved when a community goes out of its way to welcome immigrants.

Post-screening discussion with Jerry Wu, Manager, Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Program, Vancouver Board of Education. The SWIS program is a school-based settlement service that helps immigrant and refugee students and their families adapt and integrate to Canadian life and education during their initial years in Canada.

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.