Each year on World Refugee Day, we pause to honour the strength, courage, and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. At MOSAIC, this day carries even deeper meaning. This year, we marked a milestone that reflects our continued commitment to refugee resettlement: the 100th arrival through Operation Not Forgotten (ONF), a private refugee sponsorship initiative that has helped rebuild lives across oceans.
A family reunited: Nurul’s story
For Nurul Amin, arriving in Canada on October 30, 2023, meant freedom after years of detention on Nauru, a South Pacific island used by Australia for offshore refugee processing. But while he found safety, his wife, Umme Salima, and daughter, Safima, remained in Malaysia, still waiting for their chance to reunite.
Nurul had fled the Nayapara Refugee Camp in Bangladesh 15 years earlier. His daughter was born after he left, so when Umme and 13-year-old Safima finally landed in Vancouver on April 23, 2025, it was the first time Nurul saw his daughter in person.
Behind the scenes
Reuniting the family took dedicated coordination. Zain Zaidi, ONF Coordinator at MOSAIC, worked closely with them while they were still in Malaysia—liaising with the IRCC office in Singapore to ensure completion of critical steps like biometrics and medical exams. The process was made even more complex by the absence of official ID documents, which are required to obtain Canadian travel documents.
“This family has been through so much. Umme Salima and Safima traveled from Bangladesh to Malaysia without any ID cards, having been born in a Bangladeshi refugee camp as Rohingya refugees. Because of their status, they were never issued official documents like birth certificates or passports,” said Zain. “In Malaysia, they faced even more challenges, including being unable to access basic medication when Safima was sick because she didn’t have a UNHCR refugee card. That’s when I reached out to a contact at UNHCR Malaysia to help them get appointments so they could be issued those cards. The cards were instrumental in obtaining Canadian travel documents so they could travel to Canada.”
Zain was at the airport to welcome Umme and Safima when they arrived.
“I’m so relieved to see them here now, reunited with Nurul, who met his daughter in person for the first time. Watching that moment at the airport is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It was one of the most fulfilling moments of my career.”
A new chapter in Canada
Years of displacement had taken their toll. In Malaysia, refugee children are barred from attending school, and Safima had missed out on formal education since Grade 4. Now, with the family finally reunited in Canada, the ONF settlement team helped them access essential services, such as health coverage, bank accounts, and social insurance, and supported them through the transition to a new life.
Today, Safima is enrolled in Grade 8 at a middle school in School District 43, a fresh start full of new possibilities. Her mother, Umme, quietly shared with Sonja, Settlement Case Worker with the ONF team, her heartfelt dream: to one day see her daughter become a doctor. It’s a dream that, for the family, now feels within reach.
For Sonja, it’s moments like these that show resettlement is about more than paperwork, it’s about helping people feel seen, welcomed, and part of the community.
“Many of our clients struggle with isolation and miss their family’s support,” said Sonja. “Next time you see your new neighbour, why not introduce yourself, or just smile and say hi? A simple gesture that signals they belong.”
Operation Not Forgotten: A lifeline across oceans
Launched in 2019, Operation Not Forgotten is a partnership between MOSAIC, Ads Up Canada Refugee Network, the Refugee Council of Australia, UNHCR, and a global network of volunteers and supporters. The program was created in response to Australia’s offshore detention policies, which left thousands of asylum seekers—many from Iran, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan—stranded in Nauru and Papua New Guinea for years without a pathway forward.
To date, ONF has helped over 100 individuals resettle in Canada.
Impact at a glance
- 272 applications submitted since 2019
- 102 individuals have come to Canada, among which 33 are currently in their first year of settlement
- 23 family members reunited through the One-Year Window program
- 87 more yet to arrive
Behind every number is a name, a family, and a story of strength and perseverance like Nurul’s. And the numbers will continue to grow as more families find their way to safety and a new beginning.
The support continues
Afghan Response Initiative (ARI)
Launched in response to the humanitarian crisis following the fall of Kabul in August 2021, the Afghan Response Initiative (ARI) provided critical support to Afghan refugees through private sponsorship. To date, ARI has received 358 newcomers in Metro Vancouver—offering safety, stability, and a sense of belonging.
While application submissions under this program concluded in December 2024, ARI now focuses on supporting those in their first year of settlement, as well as individuals still awaiting arrival to Canada. With each newcomer, the initiative continues to help families rebuild their lives and find a sense of home and community.
Sudanese Integration and Resettlement Assistance (SIRA)
Introduced in 2025, the Sudanese Integration and Resettlement Assistance (SIRA) program builds on the successful model established by ARI. This program aims to assist Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees who have endured prolonged displacement due to ongoing conflict.
We are currently seeking co-sponsors across British Columbia who share our vision of welcoming Sudanese refugees and helping them thrive. Learn more and get involved: https://mosaicbc.org/news/privately-sponsor-refugees-sira.
How you can help
This World Refugee Day, we invite you to join us in making a meaningful difference.
Whether you’re able to co-sponsor a refugee, support a family, or simply share this story, you are part of a community that believes no one seeking safety should be left behind. As Sonja put it, inclusion doesn’t need to be complicated: it starts small. Sometimes, it begins with just one hello.
Let’s make sure every arrival is a welcome one, and that no one is ever forgotten.
