British Columbians volunteer to help Afghan refugees upon arrival

VANCOUVER – Abdul Rahim Ahmed Parwani recollects coming to Canada as a refugee the final time the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Now he’s utilizing his expertise to assist a brand new wave of refugees.

“I see them myself after I got here to Canada with my household,” he instructed CTV Information Vancouver.

Ahmed Parwani works with SUCCESS, a non-profit group that helps immigrants and refugees settle in Canada. He’s presently in Toronto and presents assist to refugees arriving there.

He’s a part of a crew that gives recruitment providers equivalent to resume writing, job search ideas and interview preparation, and placement providers, together with housing and particular packages for seniors and youth.

Ahmed Parwani is considered one of six SUCCESS workers who’ve volunteered to go to Toronto to take part within the refugee resettlement course of and assist with translation.

“Actually, it is supposed to assist these Afghan refugees calm down,” mentioned Queenie Choo, CEO of SUCCESS

“To ensure they’re okay as a result of they have been by means of a lot mentally, bodily, and emotionally. We’re dedicated to serving to probably the most susceptible empower them on the Canadian Path to calm down and create a way of belonging. “

Ahmed Parwani is midway by means of his two-week project.

“It’s a nice honor for me to have this chance,” he mentioned. “(The refugees) are excited to be in Canada and in addition fear about their nation and their households left behind.”

Many individuals with Canadian passports keep in Afghanistan as a result of they had been unable to get on one of many rescue flights earlier than the American departure deadline on August 31. Those that managed to flee fear about family members they needed to go away behind.

“We’ve no less than seven households who’ve arrived someplace in Ontario (BC) after two weeks of quarantine,” mentioned Hakim Nazem of the Afghan Affiliation of BC

“These households want primary assist for no less than a couple of weeks earlier than they will settle in their very own shelter someplace.”

Nazem mentioned the primary group arrived in BC about 4 days in the past.

“You’ll seemingly include a bit of clothes and sneakers and have youngsters,” he mentioned. “We do our greatest to do two issues on the similar time: assist and assist the newcomers and in addition strive to herald as many refugees as doable.”

The variety of 20,000 Afghan refugees Canada has promised to resettle isn’t excessive sufficient, Nazem mentioned.

“20,000 for a rustic in disaster is nothing,” he instructed CTV Information. “We’ll urge them to make modifications, simplify the method and in addition enhance the quantity.”

He mentioned the elections had been on the worst doable time given the Afghanistan disaster and he hoped the brand new Canadian administration will change the method.

“Our purpose is to make the affiliation a sponsor and to make an settlement with the federal government to absorb refugees to be able to sponsor some refugees,” mentioned Nazem.

He mentioned he would additionally like funding much like that in the course of the Syrian refugee disaster, when personal funding from church buildings and mosques was accredited.

“All these folks, they’re educated and they’ll come and be a part of the taxpayers and the workforce and the way forward for this nation,” mentioned Nazem.

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