We, the Refugee Outreach Committee, remembering St. Joseph’s experience as a refugee, are called to welcome newcomers to our midst: to reach out to them, responding to their needs by offering support and friendship. We are called to promote in our community a spirit of openness and welcoming, an understanding and celebration of our differences and an awareness of refugee issues in the world.
How the Mission is Accomplished
The Refugee Outreach Committee (ROC) works directly with refugees and refugee claimants.
Some of the committee’s previous and current activities are:
- Sponsoring refugees, at times with other organizations.
- Hosting newcomers (individuals deemed ‘landed immigrants’).
- Assisting newcomers to learn the English language.
- Providing ad hoc assistance such as: soliciting donations of furniture and other household items; providing funds for unexpected expenses ( i.e., day camps for children, telephone deposits, etc.).
- Supporting refugee claimants with practical assistance. This may could be searching for accommodation, assisting with Social Security Number (SIN) registration; obtaining information in support of claims; giving advice on getting around Ottawa; helping with the claim process; and working with claimants and their lawyers on petitions and/or Humanitarian and Compassionate Claims. In one exceptional case, ROC arranged sanctuary for a refugee whose claim was denied.
- Providing emotional and social support to refugees, refugee claimants, and newcomers.
- Organizing social events to enable various refugees to meet each other.
- Providing advice and support to individuals and groups who want to sponsor refugees.
- Educating and advocating in the form of:
- Advocacy on refugee issues;
- Public education by holding meetings with “experts” on native countries of refugees (i.e. Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar (Burma)).
- Networking
- Lobbying government for changes in legislation/practices that are detrimental to the well being of refugees.
- Supporting various local stakeholders by attending meetings and volunteering with; CIC, CCR, COR, IRNO, HWF, PACT.
Meeting:
Date: First Wednesday of each month
Time: 7 pm
Church Rectory