Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney recently announced the launch of the Somali-Jewish Canadian Mentorship Project, a new program aimed at improving cross-cultural understanding and facilitating the integration of newcomers.

The Somali-Jewish Canadian Mentorship Project seeks to foster leadership skills in young people, bringing together young Somali-Canadians between 18 and 25 years of age with established Jewish-Canadians. The role of the mentor is to assist and guide those being mentored as they pursue their academic and professional goals.

"The project is the first of its kind in Canada," says Minister Kenney. "It brings together leaders from a well-established community with the future leaders of a community that is striving for a more complete inclusion in Canadian society."

It is expected that the Somali-Jewish Canadian Mentorship Project will establish a successful model for similar cross-cultural projects to be introduced in the future.

The $473,640 funding for the project is being provided through Canada's Multiculturalism Program, which works to facilitate economic, social, and cultural integration and to foster increased participation in society.