Opportunities, Information, and More
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published a list of ways Canadians may help Afghan refugees following Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban.
Due to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, Canada has pledged to resettle 20,000 Afghans fleeing from the Taliban.
Beyond the Government’s resettlement efforts, there are many ways that everyday Canadians can support these refugees. This article will elaborate upon some of the options found in the IRCC’s official recommendations.
Volunteering and Donating
When Afghan refugees enter Canada, many will need help resettling because a good chunk of them are coming to Canada with next to nothing with them. Any help will go a long way in assisting these refugees as they rebuild and seek out safe and fulfilling lives in Canada.
You may donate funds directly or donate in-demand goods such as clothing and furniture. Don’t have anything to donate? No problem – you can also volunteer at a resettling assistance organization. Send an email to [email protected] to connect with a resettlement organization near you and make a difference! Alternatively, you can take initiative and seek out organizations ready to support these incoming refugees; click this link to find a list of local service organization for newcomers.
Sponsorship Programs
To ‘sponsor’ a refugee means to participate in a program that connects you to a particular refugee that you will then support financially and/or socially. In Canada, this is done through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program.
You can participate by connecting with an organization that is classified as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). Otherwise, you may form a Group of Five (G5), meaning that you and four or more other Canadian citizens join together to sponsor a refugee.
It’s worth noting that IRCC says it will prioritize family class sponsorships. This includes refugees who fall under the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program. Pay particular attention to this news if you wish to sponsor one or more of your relatives.
Special Programs
Canada is expanding its efforts to support vulnerable Afghans. In addition to the plan that prioritizes Afghans that assisted the Canadian government, a special humanitarian program aims to resettle vulnerable Afghans who do not have a reliable alternative country to move to. This may include women leaders, human rights advocates, LGBTI individuals, journalists and many more.
You do not necessarily have to live in Afghanistan to qualify. You can email IRCC for more information about these programs at [email protected].
More Information
For any additional information, you may submit your questions and concerns to the IRCC at [email protected].
If you are an Afghan temporary resident and you want to extend your stay, click here.
If you are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and you are currently in Afghanistan, you can obtain travel documents by emailing [email protected].
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.