Alone: The Journey of Three Young Refugees Touches on the Universal Truth

Each year, more than 400 unaccompanied minors arrive alone in Canada, requesting refugee status. They arrive without their parents and are not accompanied by any adults. The stories of fleeing are harrowing; the separation from family is heartbreaking. However, the need to survive and the determination of each young person as they begin to rebuild their lives are reminders of just how strong the human spirit can be.
Alone (Seuls in French) is a Gémeaux Award-winning documentary and children’s graphic novel, by Montréal-based documentary filmmaker and author Paul Tom, explores the immigrant experience. It is inspired by the true stories of three young refugees: Afshin, Alain, and Patricia. The film’s success has sparked important conversations about the refugee experience and the challenges facing immigrant youth.
The Faculty of Education selected Paul’s graphic novel for their reading group and gathered to discuss its relevant themes and significance for educators.

“Paul Tom’s Alone powerfully brings to light the personal stories behind the refugee experience. For educators, it’s a reminder of the importance of fostering empathy, understanding, and emotional connection in the classroom. By embracing the diverse backgrounds of our students, we create inclusive environments where all learners feel seen, heard, and supported.” - Dr. James Nahachewsky, Dean, Faculty of Education, U of R.

Paul joined the Faculty of Education for a virtual conversation about Alone (Seuls), and how educators can move beyond traditional frameworks to support representation in the classroom.

A Journey of Revelation

Born to Cambodian parents in a refugee camp in Thailand, Paul arrived in Quebec, Canada, with his family in the fall of 1985, when he was less than two years old.

Paul’s early life in Quebec was a blend of excitement, cultural conflict, and adaptation. He had French tutors because his parents wanted to make sure he could integrate into society without any problems. As a teenager Paul resented his parents for their culture because he didn't have the same freedoms as his Quebecois friends. When he got older, particularly through his artistic explorations in film studies at university, he began to appreciate the sacrifices his parents made for him and his sister.

“Looking back, I realized how lucky I am to be here. By uprooting themselves from Cambodia, my parents made sacrifices to give me a better life,” says Tom.

Paul developed a passion for music and the arts at a young age. When Paul's father introduced him to Charlie Chaplin's film Modern Times, he quickly recognized how Chaplin used comedy as a powerful tool to convey a message, which critiqued the relentless pace of industrial work. He was also deeply inspired by the film, Dead Poets Society which validated his love of poetry and showed him the power of expressing emotions through stories.

Paul first studied architecture at Université Laval in Québec City, a field that, despite its creativity, failed to ignite his passion. He later pivoted towards cinema and media studies, first travelling to study cinema in Paris, France, and then enrolling in a communications and media degree at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

When Paul was tasked with creating a film for this final project at UQAM, his initial idea was a lighthearted romantic comedy. But his teachers, recognizing a depth in his personal experiences, encouraged him to tell a story that was uniquely his: “We feel there is something deeper in you. Something that only you can tell. Just jump into that and share your story.”

After that, he began making films about his family and himself, realizing how sharing intimate, personal stories can create a universal impact.

Paul later completed this degree in animation at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema (Concordia University) in 2010.

To Paul, this is a journey of revelation; to the world, a powerful storyteller is born. The past 12 years have proved to be phenomenal. Paul has worked as an editor, designer of museum exhibition videos, and as a trainer in cultural mediation projects. He’s been working heartily to explore themes of identity, belonging, and human connection that transcends borders. He hopes his work can shed light on people who don’t have a platform of their own and bring new perspectives to universal topics such as immigration and displacement.

Alone (Seuls) is no doubt a highlight of Paul’s career so far. Released in 2021 at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), Alone received four Gala des Gémeaux Awards in 2022 for Best Documentary Film, Best Documentary Direction, Best Documentary Screenplay, and Best Documentary Research.

Here is Paul Tom’s digital story I am here (Je suis ici in French) created for National Film Board Education (Éducation-Office Nationale du Film in French):

How it came to be?

The film’s scriptwriters, Julie Boisvert and Mylène Péthel, realized that some children had arrived in Canada alone. They wondered how this could happen and why parents would choose to send their children to Canada by themselves. That’s when they knew they had to make a film about it.

Impressed by Tom’s sensitivity to immigrant experiences in his 2017 documentary Baggage, Boisvert and Péthel approached him. By then they had already found two of the film’s subjects and decided to use animation  to tell the story from a child’s point of view.

Over the period of about a year, the three of them collaborated on the film’s script.

The true story of Afshin, Alain, and Patricia

Afshin came to Boisvert and Péthel’s attention after publishing his autobiography - Passeport pour ailleurs. He arrived in Canada at 13 years old from Tehran, Iran. He used to work three jobs and spent 23 years working weekends – to make sure he never had too much time on his hands and enough money to support his children so they wouldn’t suffer. He believes the harder he works the better life will be in his new home country. Now he works as a radiology technician in a hospital and tells his story in schools through his book. He is now in his fifties, married, and has two children.

Alain also arrived in Canada at the age of 13, from Bujumbura, Burundi. His strong faith led him to believe that everything happens for a reason. After being accepted into the police academy on his seventh attempt, he proved to everyone that he could become a police officer. “I think about all the things my parents did to get me here. I’ll try to make them proud of me. It’s a victory for not only me but for all young people. It shows that anything is possible.”

Patricia was introduced to the team by PRAIDA (Regional Program for the Settlement and Integration of Asylum Seekers). She arrived in Canada at 16 years old from Kampala, Uganda. Initially, she wasn’t ready to share her story. For the first ten months, Paul focused on building her confidence. “A few days before the interview, I asked her to write because I knew she enjoyed writing. She gave me a text she had written, and it was so powerful,” Paul says.

… I dream of being free,

Of living in my own house.

I dream of seeing my parents happy.

I dream of going to a job interview without being ashamed of the colour of my skin.

I want people to see me as a human being, not just as a Black person.

I want the world to accept me as someone who has hopes and dreams like everybody else.

I hope that one day, everyone will be able to go wherever they want without being afraid.

I dream that people will accept me.

And that I will accept myself.

- Patricia

(Alone: The Journey of Three Young Refugees, Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillargé, 2023, p.134)

Alone: Trailer (from Picbois Productions) 

After the film’s success, Paul and illustrator Mélanie Baillargé published a book adaptation of the film under the French title Seuls in 2022 and the English title Alone: The Journey of Three Young Refugees in 2023. The French edition was a 2022 Governor General’s Award nominee for French-language children’s illustration. Seuls won le prix TD 2023 de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse (2023 TD Award for Children’s Literature) and le Prix illustration jeunesse du Salon du livre de Trois-Rivières (Children’s Book Award for Illustration - Novel category, Baillargé) in March 2023. The English editiontranslated by Arielle Aaronson (Groundwood Books) was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Translation (from French to English) in 2023 and received the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award in October 2024. 

“The film's production company Picbois Productions had the idea of publishing a book to connect children and young people with the film’s message,” says Paul. “We had contact with La Courte-Echelle, a publisher in Quebec. La Courte-Echelle had never done a documentary book before, but said it was a good idea.”

“When I was writing the book, I imagined myself being 13 years old. I’m little Paul or little Afshin. Instead of thinking with words, I think with the five senses: What is it to be alone? To miss someone you love? What do I hear? What do I feel on my skin? I believe my sensitivity translates into something real that children can understand,” says Paul.

Paul was right – he captures profound universal truths through his work: acceptance, love, and respect. These emotions are central to the human experience, transcending cultures and backgrounds. The book received glowing reviews. Readers shared that, “Every character had relatable emotions that anyone could connect to. That’s why this book could touch so many readers, even if they had no shared experiences.” 

Why does representation matter?

Young refugees arriving alone to Canada continue to remain invisible and voiceless.

“It's difficult to understand what immigration is - what it's like to be a refugee - when you don't know anyone and all you hear about refugees are statistics. If there are no human faces, no stories behind them, you can't be touched. That's why I've been telling refugee stories over the years,” Paul reflects.

Representation is crucial because it allows individuals to see themselves in ways that affirm their existence, validate their identity, and make them feel visible in spaces where they might otherwise be marginalized. Tom recalled experiencing this firsthand as a child, when he saw a little Asian boy in The Mighty Ducks. “It was the first time I saw a little Asian boy on screen doing something I like to do - playing hockey,” Paul recalls.

Being represented in Alone (Seuls) had a huge impact on Patricia. She spent two years living in constant stress, unsure if Canada would reject her or if she could stay. At the opening screening, 400 people applauded her, telling her: We believe in your story. Your story makes sense. "Receiving this kind of love was like giving her wings to go further in life,” says Paul.

What does this mean for educators?

Economic, political, and social changes - along with uncertainty - continue to influence migration patterns worldwide. In Canada, record numbers of new residents are settling, presenting significant challenges for educators.

“I think there is a significant gap in how we address emotions in the classroom. There simply isn’t enough space or time to truly express emotions. It's not that we actively avoid emotions - it’s that the pace of the curriculum, the pressures of standardized assessments, and the structure of our educational systems often leave little room for personal connection or vulnerability,” Paul points out.

“I think we start with an exchange. If we want to create emotional connection and bonding, we need to put ourselves at stake - open our hearts and talk about our difficulties. I’ve seen this approach in action in a classroom. Students do not speak directly to the professor. Instead, they speak to each other, and the professor simply listens. When one student shares, it often echoes in the minds of others. As more students share, something powerful begins to happen: a sense of bonding emerges, and students feel validated in their emotions, thoughts, and experiences,” says Paul.

Sometimes, all it takes is one moment of vulnerability, whether from the teacher or the students, to shift the atmosphere in the room. That one exchange can break down barriers, build understanding, and create a more supportive learning environment. 

Check out the programs offered by the Faculty of Education. 

“Paul Tom’s Alone powerfully brings to light the personal stories behind the refugee experience. For educators, it’s a reminder of the importance of fostering empathy, understanding, and emotional connection in the classroom. By embracing the diverse backgrounds of our students, we create inclusive environments where all learners feel seen, heard, and supported.” - Dr. James Nahachewsky, Dean, Faculty of Education, U of R. 

In light of the University of Regina’s Strategic Plan Kahk-kiyaw ni wahko makanak (All Our Relations) emphasizing mutuality and interdependence of all humans and non-humans, the work facing educators is enormous, as is the work undertaken in our faculty through teaching, research and service. Faculty of Education, U of R, recognizes that changes will come through humility, listening and relearning alongside all people, academic and otherwise, who work and learn within the Faculty of Education and in relation with the people and communities we serve – all our relations.

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