At the beginning of the year, we launched a new volunteer outreach campaign called “25 in 2020.” Our goal was to engage volunteers from each of Toronto’s 25 wards and we have officially met this goal in just three months! We are also reaching volunteers in 9 of the 11 wards in Peel Region. We would like to thank the 10 city councillors and executive assistants we have met with, who have helped us raise awareness and encourage volunteers to get involved in building more welcoming communities. These councillors are: Councillor Carroll, Ford, Holyday, Layton, Karygiannis, Matlow, Nunziata, Perruzza, Robinson, and Wong-Tam. Thank you also to the Toronto Foundation for your communications support! Stay tuned as we continue to expand our volunteer reach across Toronto and Mississauga!

As a former newcomer to Canada, originally from Syria, I still feel all of the challenges newcomers go through. My family and I suffered a lot, especially when we first arrived. Although I didn’t have the language barrier and although I arrived as a skilled immigrant, it was extremely difficult to find our way. We went through a very hard time. Because of these challenges, I work and volunteer to ensure that other newcomers have a better experience than mine. I volunteered at many different places and then my volunteer position at ACCT turned into full time employment.

I believe in Together Project’s work and that’s why I got more involved. Through the Welcome Group program, volunteers have an inside look at the newcomer experience.  They get to know another culture’s perspective and way of thinking and this helps expand the volunteers’ world view. The newcomers have a chance to learn about Canada not from a book but from real Canadians who build their understanding of this country one experience at a time. This is what I love most about Canada;  the culture of accepting others and welcoming them. I call this, “The Canadian Dream.”

Having done a lot of work from the perspective of new citizens who have been in Canada for a number of years, I’m interested in the experience of people who have just arrived. The days of waiting a generation for an immigrant or refugee to feel a sense of belonging are over. These days, we need methods and means that really accelerate integration and inclusion. There are huge benefits for Canadians to participate in programs like the Welcome Group program. There is something so tangible and empowering about making a difference in the lives of people you come to know well. The responsibility of making people feel like they belong is no longer left just to arrivals but it is also the responsibility of the receiving community, whether that is a community of corporate volunteers, a sports team, a faith group or a group of neighbours and friends. Read more

This manual empowers volunteers with an overview of the knowledge and tools most useful in providing social support to refugee claimants. The manual is divided into four sections: 1) the refugee claimant journey and the volunteer role 2) concepts of voluntary and humanitarian work 3) managing expectations and 4) how the program works. Download the manual here.

Welcome Groups for Refugee Claimants one-year pilot program, with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. We are currently seeking groups of five or more volunteers in the Greater Toronto Area to be matched with a refugee claimant youth (ages 18-25), single parent household, or large family for six months of social support. To learn more about how you can volunteer to form a Welcome Group, please email hello@togetherproject.ca.

People sometimes talk about refugee issues like they are experts. I don’t think, until you see what folks go through in their daily lives, you can really understand, or even begin to understand the challenges and odds newcomers are up against.