Multicultural Association ofPerth‐Huron supports newcomers

Support for

Huron Local Immigration Partnership Winter 2015

Helping newcomers feel at home is what the

Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron is all about.

Immigrants to Canada, newcomers from other

provinces, and isolated foreign and Canadian migrants

will all find a warm welcome, information and support

at the Multicultural Association office in Stratford,

Ontario. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, the

Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron (MAPH)

assists newcomers in Perth and Huron Counties to

adjust to life in their new communities by providing

services throughout the two counties.

Since he arrived in Stratford in 2011, Gezahgn Wordofa

(known to his friends as Geza) has volunteered most of

his waking life to becoming part of the community and

helping others. In a short amount of time, he has

become a member of the Stratford Rotary Club, the

Stratford Area Chamber of Commerce and a founding

member of Stratford Toastmasters.

newcomers

“Newcomers to Huron and Perth

Counties enrich their

communities by teaching us

about the world we live in, and

reminding us that even though

we may be different, we are all

the same.” - Dr. Gezahgn WordofaContinued on Page 2

Page 2

Wordofa knows firsthand how

hard it is to be a newcomerWordofa is often found volunteering at churches and

with many non‐profit groups including Salvation Army,

House of Blessing, SAWA and the United Way. He has

been recognized many times in the local news for his

efforts and achievements and now is a household name

for anyone doing humanitarian work in the area.

Originally from Ethiopia, Wordofa studied at the

University of Moscow where he graduated World

History, International Relations, Human Rights and

Diplomacy. He went on to become Goodwill World Peace

Ambassador for ten years before leaving to raise a family

with his wife Nicole and their son Aaron in Canada.

Having to adjust many times in the past to new cultures

and communities, Wordofa knew firsthand how hard it is

to be a newcomer. Moving to Canada was no exception

and he began to seek out immigrants in Perth‐Huron

area who needed support. Working out of coffee shops,

Wordofa helped countless individuals adjust to living in

Canada while developing the proposal for his support

service, the Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron.

After communicating his vision to others, Wordofa

quickly gained support of a small group of like‐minded

individuals. This led to the MAPH being tabled as a new

project proposal for the United Way Perth‐Huron. The

idea was well received and on October 5, 2013 the

official launch of the pilot project was held.

Wordofa has been awarded many times for his volunteer

work in Canada from the likes of the University of

Toronto for speaking on Women's Empowerment, the

Red Cross for Humanitarian Work with Youth Programs

and the Newcomer Champion Award from the Ontario

Government. He has been described as a community

leader and volunteer dedicated to helping immigrants of

all ages better integrate and feel at home in Ontario.

Even though he landed in a small community, Wordofa

keeps his eyes on the bigger picture with international

initiatives in Moscow, Russia working with refugees and

the homeless. He is also actively raising money for

health clinics, schools and clean water for small

communities in his home of Ethiopia while educating

people on their human rights.

From page 1

Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, founder and community liaison facilitator, the Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron, with his Newcomer Champion Award presented to him by the Ontario government.

Newcomer Outreach and Needs Assessment project MAPH recently announced that it received a $50,000

grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, for its

Newcomer Outreach and Needs Assessment (NONA)

project. This will be a 6‐month project in which

gatherings with newcomers in major towns across Perth

and Huron Counties will be held. This will give the

MAPH an opportunity to connect with newcomers in

both counties, determine the needs of newcomers,

improve procedures, and enhance referral networks.

This method of supporting newcomers will also serve as

a means to collect background information necessary to

procure stable funding for the organization.

Page 3

As an initial point of contact for newcomers, the

Multicultural Association acts as a referral agency to

provide connections to government and community

services and resources. The association actively

promotes inclusion and diversity in Perth‐Huron

through community events and education and aims to

reduce barriers to newcomer access to services and

resources. MAPH supports local economic

development organizations to attract newcomers and

retain them in the workforce by liaising with

employment agencies.

As a project of the United Way Perth‐Huron, the

Multicultural Association depends upon the goodwill

and support of volunteers, businesses and citizens

who share our goals and are interested in helping our

organization and its growing number of clients.

The MAPH helps to identify the needs of newcomers

and to connect them with the businesses, community

agencies, educational services, and government

services they require to successfully settle here. These

needs include:

• Employment

• Starting a business

• Finding housing or buying a house

• Banking

• Training, including English classes

• Finding transportation or getting a driver's

licence

• Family counselling

• Legal assistance

• Immigration/citizenship issues

• Financial planning

MAPH an initial point of contact

Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa and community supporters at an event in Stratford in 2014.

Connecting communities and social networksThe Multicultural Association also strives to help

newcomers be part of the wider local social network

that will help them integrate into their communities,

while sharing and celebrating their own unique

cultures.

The MAPH does this by organizing events such as

multicultural dinners, coffee nights, International

Women's Day celebrations, and cultural events such

as the community‐wide thanksgiving festival held in

Stratford last summer to recognize the religious

holiday of Eid Al‐Fitr.

“… The thanksgiving festival is a religious holiday

observed by Muslims worldwide over three days at

the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of

fasting. Each day begins with prayer to Allah and is

celebrated with traditional food, music, and gifts

amongst family and friends.

But the local event on Aug. 30, organized by the

Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron and held

outside the Falstaff Family Centre from afternoon

until evening, wasn't only about practicing those

traditions. Guests enjoyed food and music from

around the world prepared and performed by area

residents of contrasting ethnicities who, for various

reasons, have all settled in Canada.

The purpose of the day, noted Multicultural

Association leader Gezahgn Wordofa, was to bring

together people of all faiths to celebrate and give

thanks, both for their differences and all that they

have in common.” – From the article written by Jeff

Heuchert, Editor, the Stratford Gazette, September 2,

2014. To read more of this article, visit:

http://www.southwesternontario.ca/news/local‐

muslims‐share‐in‐their‐thanksgiving/.

For more information contact: Rebecca Rathwell, Project Manager

519‐524‐8394, ext. 3, www.makehuronhome.cahome@huroncounty.ca,

Volunteers are always welcome

The Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron is always

on the lookout for new volunteers and welcomes those

who would like to:

Connect with individual newcomers

Connect with newcomer groups

Engage newcomers for interviews and focus

groups for the Newcomer Outreach and Needs

Assessment project

Invite newcomers to multicultural events

Upcoming MAPH 2015 events February 16: Burger Night

February 19: Chinese New Year

March 8: International Women's Day

For more information about these events, the MAPH, or

to volunteer, contact the Multicultural Association of

Perth‐Huron:

Phone: 519.271.7730 Ext 232

Email: multicultural.perthhuron@gmail.com or

office@maph.ca

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/perthhuron.multicultural

MAPH steering committee

AcknowledgementsMake Huron Home gratefully acknowledges the

assistance of the following individuals and

organizations in providing information and materials for

this edition of the Make Huron Home newsletter:

Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, MAPH founder and

community liaison facilitator

Mark Hertzberger, MAPH project manager

The Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron

The United Way Perth‐Huron

Jeff Heuchert, Editor, the Stratford Gazette

Photographs and content are reprinted here with the

kind permission of the MAPH, the United Way Perth‐

Huron, and of the Stratford Gazette.

The MAPH is governed by a steering committee whose

members volunteer their time and energy to coordinate

and develop the MAPH as it evolves toward graduation

as a project from United Way. Duties of the membership

include:

• Assist in developing, approving, and monitoring

a work plan for the MAPH.

• Assist in developing, approving, and monitoring

a budget for the MAPH.

• Commission and evaluate research and reports

for the MAPH.

• Contribute suggestions, ideas, expertise and

advice regarding fundraising, promotion

and service delivery.

• Identify potential partnerships and funding

sources to enhance the work of the

Committee.

• Provide guidance to MAPH volunteers and/ or

paid staff members

• Discuss issues and promote the MAPH within

their communities of interest and with the

community as a whole.

Steering committee members include:

• Nishchint Bajaj

• Ryan Erb

• Mark Hertzberger

• Deb Hotchkiss

• Erin Jones

• Maurice Koetsier

• Julia Merritt

• Joan van der Meer

• Don Van Galen

The MAPH now has three part‐time staff members as

well: Project Manager Mark Hertzberger, and two

Program Administrators, Nina Javet and Yao Li.