MOSAIC hosted its first Afghan Welcome Event on Sunday, Jan. 22, inspired by the successful outcome of its Ukraine Welcome Event during the summer of 2022.
Around 180 guests were welcomed at MOSAIC headquarters by traditional Afghan music and MOSAIC settlement staff. Guests were given the opportunity to connect with staff and ask questions about employment, language and settlement services.
“I came here because I want to sponsor my brother and uncle,” said Saif, an attendee who arrived here in 2011.
For some others, like Hamid who recently welcomed his wife and children to Canada, it was a chance to meet new people and increase his network among other Afghans in a new country.
“It’s good over here in Canada, better than what’s happening in Afghanistan, but every country has its pros and cons,” Hamid said.
“I know there are other problems for people in terms of settling and finding jobs, especially with inflation and housing, we all have a problem with that.”
The ethnically diverse Afghan diaspora reminds Minab Yetbarek, MOSAIC settlement outreach worker, of the diversity reflected by the community.
“The best part about our services is that you get served in your native language,” Minab said. “You get to have someone help you who knows about the experience themselves [and] most of our settlement workers including myself, have been through that process of immigration and coming to Canada and trying to settle here.”
Gini Bonner, Senior Manager of Refugee Resettlement and Integration Programs, stressed the importance of helping the Afghan community with the resources they need and ensuring they know about the services MOSAIC can provide.
“Personally, I [also] find it really rewarding because I’m learning something new at every MOSAIC event I go to.”
Guests at the Afghan Welcome Event were able to access information on various supports offered by MOSAIC:
- Language: Free, government funded English classes offered by the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC)
- Legal Advocacy Services: Legal support and representation to low-income immigrants and refugees.
- Housing/Settlement: Settlement supports offered by programs such as Moving Ahead Program (MAP) to assist with the many challenges in starting a new life in Canada.
- Employment: Newcomers are eligible for certain employment supports that will help with finding work in Canada.
Learn more about other MOSAIC supports for newcomers here.
