Abstract

Since the current war in Syria began in 2011, millions of people have been internally and externally displaced. This has greatly contributed to the increase in refugee numbers throughout the world (UNHCR, 2017). Women and children are more vulnerable because, under certain regimes, they do not have the same agency as adult men (Vieira ,2014). Of further relevance, while adult refugees deal with their own survival, their children may experience physical and/or emotional neglect (Rutter, 2006). Canada is one of the countries currently receiving Syrian refugees (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017). This heuristic research paper argues that storytelling is a particularly powerful tool that can greatly benefit refugee children and respond to their specific needs. This is especially true for Syrian children and children of other cultures who have grown up with rich storytelling traditions. I will explore and justify the use of storytelling as a dramatic therapeutic intervention for Syrian refugee children, arguing that it can be beneficial in treating children refugees who have experienced war trauma. I will also explore why this intervention has been so meaningful to my immigration story and my own journey to wellness.