employment matters fall wishlist with bashir shahbaz€¦ · bashir shahbaz, manager of employment...
TRANSCRIPT
FALL NEWSLETTER | 2018
Reception House Waterloo Region is a community-based organization that provides a warm welcome to government-assisted refugees through a number of programs and services. VOLUNTEER | DONATE | ADVOCATE | OFFER A ROOF at receptionhouse.ca
Finding a job in Canada when you are only just learning the language is tough. It’s hard to juggle full time English classes and work, often the newcomers we serve choose either or. On August 1st, we started a new program where clients won’t have to choose between class or work. In my new role as Manager of Employment Services I’ll be overseeing the “Working Together Employment Project” - a unique initiative to enable Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) to successfully obtain and retain employment. Our team is excited
to work collaboratively to address both employment and language related needs by delivering tailor-made language and vocational skills training on the job site. We are looking forward to seeing what emerges from this project with our partners at the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR), The Literacy Group (TLG) and JD-Sweid Foods. CCBR will carry out the evaluation of the project enabling us to better understand newcomers’
Employment Matters with Bashir Shahbaz
A Place for New BeginningsFall 2018 Issue 13
Fall WishlistVolunteers who love working with children, on a casual as needed basis.
Kitchen starter kits.
Family Partnership volunteers.
Financial donations to help cover dental services that are not covered by other plans.
Affordable rental units, with landlords who are willing to give newcomers and large families a fair chance.
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We’re going the distance for refugee support! Reception House Riders is a team of 17 staff,volunteers and former board members who will be riding and walking for a great cause on Sept 29th. We’re raising funds for programs not supported by our core government funding - programs like the Family Partnership. This year our goal is to raise $10,000. We’re 40% of the way there, but we need your help! Donate online at: ride.w-ith.me/receptionhouse_riders
FALL NEWSLETTER | 2018 FALL NEWSLETTER | 2018
Play and Parenting at Reception Housewith Janet Howitt, Executive Director Delton Glebe Counselling Centre
Welcome Aboard!We welcome Tracy Moxon to our team as our new volunteer coordinator. Tracy comes with over 10 years experience working in volunteer services and will be re-sponsible for the Family Partnership, English Outreach for Women and other volunteer driven programs.Tracy will be using the email [email protected] and is replacing Cassandra Bangay who co-ordinated volunteers with us for two years. We wish Cassandra all the best as she returns to her studies and warmly welcome Tracy!
Welcome to our co-op placement Johnathan Coburn! Johnathan is a conscientious programming student with Conestoga College. A real tech whiz, Johnathan is an asset to our team.
The Great Canadian Family Portrait project offers newly arrived government assisted refugees their first professional photo in their new home – Waterloo Region. A collaboration between photographer Brian Limoyo and Reception House, the project helps document clients’ new beginnings in Canada – as a family, alone or with new friends they have made through the Family Partnership Program.
The second part of the project is to bring awareness to the issue of family reunification, and the impacts that family separation has on refugee integration.
Brian conceptualized the project out of a desire to make a difference through powerful images. Select images have been compiled into a limited edition book. Featuring interviews and stories, the book hopes to build an understanding of the complex emotions that re-settlement
entails.
Proceeds from the book will support Reception House and the continuation of the project. Learn more about the project here: receptionhouse.ca/portraitproject/
The Delton Glebe Counselling Centre has been partnering with Reception House Waterloo Region to provide Child and Play therapy and parenting groups at 101 David St, Kitchener since August 2017. Our collaborative work was funded through the KW Community Foundation and Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region. Linda Bender, former Mental Health worker at Reception House who passed away in November was the impetus for the program, designing programming for children and families experiencing emotional challenges to resettlement and the impacts of trauma.
Sessions with children include use of sand trays, an amazing therapeutic tool when there is limited language. One boy
New beginnings, one photo at a time…
Top Right: Haji Hussein
family
Bottom: Fikadu Demeke
family with volunteers
Berrak and Levant
employment-language related needs and propose service delivery responses. TLG have an incredible track record delivering effective literacy and life/work skills programs for adults in Waterloo Region. They will administer language instruction at the job site. JD Sweid is our pilot worksite, offering language accommodation for employees who need it most. We’re hoping the project will get more newcomers ready and motivated to join the workforce, without having to put their learning on hold. I’m hopeful that this project will result in better opportunities for refugees in our community, we’ll keep you posted!
Bashir Shahbaz, Manager of Employment Services
with a history of nightmares back in Lebanon was able to quietly assemble his tray. When it came time for him to share, he told of soldiers attacking a village, people running into their houses, and police attempting to protect them. The play therapy group allowed children the safe space to witness each other’s creative process and communicate their pictures and stories. Children acknowledged similar experiences through conversations about planes, about conflict in schools overseas, and in remembering family and friends “left behind”.
Meanwhile, parents face unique challenges in their parenting practices while grieving the loss of their country, culture, family, and possessions. When parents are faced with and recovering from their own trauma and grief as refugees, they have to continue to be an ongoing resource and support for their children.
We are so proud to be partners in this work, impacting and supporting a number of children and families in their journey of resettlement, integration and wellness in Waterloo Region.
Working Together Project Partners
FALL NEWSLETTER | 2018
Not Another Gala Encore!What a celebration! We were thrilled to meet so many new guests and reconnect with the many familiar faces at our second annual fundraiser, Not Another Gala! Thank you to all who supported us. We are so pleased to have raised over $14,000; funds that help us offer social integration programs that create a more inclusive community. A special thank you to our generous sponsors,TD Bank, St. Jerome’s University, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Inc., KW House Church Inc., Morrison Reist Krauss LLP, Together We’re Bitter, JD Sweid Foods, BDO, and many more.
Congratulations to our 2018 award recipients: Albert C. Lobe and Community Justice Initiatives.
It was a night of engaging performances, great food, an enticing silent auction of almost 30 items, and of course, excel-lent company. It was a special opportunity for our supporters to mingle and engage with newcomers and each other, learning about, and celebrating, the diversity of our region.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for next year’s #notanothergala on June 14th, 2019!
Special thanks to Cardinal Media for layout. Have news to share? Email us at [email protected]
Acknowledgements
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DONATION CARDTogether we can create home and life changing opportunities for refugee children, youth and families. Donations to our “Together We Create Home” Fund support the work, programs and services of Reception House not funded through government sources. Contact: [email protected] for details.
Help refugee families integrate and thrive!