The BC Government has announced that MOSAIC will lead the Metro Vancouver Refugee Response Team (RRT). We will convene a community RRT comprised of 38 diverse memberships to include: private sponsorship groups; settlement service agencies; healthcare providers; education organizations; social service agencies; the business sector; Syrian community; and municipal staff to identify and prioritize community refugee service needs, and develop a coordinated Community Refugee Response Action Plan to address urgent, short-term needs or issues in support of refugees.
The $107,655 funding for the Metro Vancouver area includes Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Tsawwassen, and Tri-Cities.
Minister Shirley Bond visited MOSAIC headquarters to make the announcement and to congratulate MOSAIC on receiving these funds. She took the time to speak with many staff members and to learn more about MOSAIC’s programs as services. Also on hand for the announcement was Sam Sullivan, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek.
The focus of our work will be to strengthen the receiving communities, using partnerships to enhance the integration process for the refugees. Through the RRT’s collaborative efforts and its broad spectrum of service providers, MOSAIC will be able to coordinate a collective response to the identified needs and gaps in services.
The MOSAIC-led RRT will prepare an action plan in March for submission to the BC government for approval and implementation in April 2016.
Please visit our Facebook page to see more photos of Minister Bond”s visit.
Left to right: Saleem Spindari, Manager of Refugee Resettlement Support Projects, Ninu Kang, Director of Communications & Development, Eyob Naizghi, Executive Director, Minister Shirley Bond, Joan Andersen, Director of Employment & Language Programs, Sherman Chan, Director of Family & Settlement Services. Center: Sam Sullivan, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek
