Launching our new Child Minding program in 2021

We know with all this COVID-19 situation, everything is getting canceled. Especially activities with our kids like sports and performing arts.

For many parents, who are practicing social distancing with their kids at home, finding ways to break up the day and give your kids a sense of routine has been a real challenge. It’s very difficult to have them all day with no more activities.

That’s how FCJ refugee centre came out with this program, funding by the city of Toronto that your kids can check out from the safety of your home.

Our child minding program is an invitation to the younger members of our local community to participate in the creation of art, music, and in learning communication skills in English. Throughout child minding program we hope to support both the creative skills and expressions of future generations to come by connecting to families through a 1 to 1.5 hour long virtual Zoom class, in which members of our dedicated staff will work to teach members of the program the basics of art (like shapes or colors), music (such as how to sing or read chords), and English through our ESL program. Art and ESL classes will run on Tuesdays from 4.30 pm to 6 pm, and Music and ESL classes will run on Fridays from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm. If you would like to register, you can find our form on our website, or you can send an email (see details below).

For the program we use Zoom, an increasingly popular platform, very easy to use, and that children learn to use quickly. They just need to have an internet connection, and any device, like a cellphone, a tablet or a computer, and we will provide a link where you can access to our group. There the kids can spend time learning how to make some crafts, easy recipes, music, doing some exercise with dancing class, learn how to draw with new techniques, practicing their reading and interacting with other kids. Since socialization can not be in person, at least the kids can connect between then in a safe environment.

Also we want to help kids with their homework. We understand as a parent sometimes is hard to explain some exercises to our kids either with Math or any subject because we don’t understand it very well since is in English. So if a kids are having trouble understanding any instruction we will provide assistance with it.

For some activities like crafts you may have at home some things they can use but we also would be able to provide the material they will use in art so you don’t need to be worried about spending money in this amaizing program.

All kids are welcome doesn’t matter if there are not attending school or the status of their parents. Every kid is welcome between the age 4 to 15 years they can register and join us.

This Program will be Tuesday 3:00-4:30 and Thursday 4:30-6:00.

For registration contact Melina Caroprezo: melina.caroprezo @ gmail.com.

Food and Income Security Program

At the FCJ Refugee Centre we continue working in solidarity with precarious migrants. We understand that this is a difficult and uncertain time for many, and we’re here to support and provide information to anyone who is in need.

We continue walking with uprooted people and building together a borderless humanity.

If you or anyone you know are in need of food security, income support or any basic need do not hesitate to contact us.

Arturo Calleja:

  • Email: acalleja @ fcjrefugeecentre.org
  • Phone: 416-469-9754 ext. 231

The Coordinator of the Food and Income Security Program is Jessie Kohut:

  • Email: jessie.kohut @ fcjrefugeecentre.org
  • Phone: 416-469-9754 ext. 243

More details about the program, in the following video:

Refugee Hearing Preparation Updates: What to Expect During Your Hearing Day

The following document is from the information session Refugee Hearing Preparation Updates: What to Expect During Your Hearing Day.

The document will help you to be familiar with the refugee hearing process and how to be prepared for that day.

It includes updates on the resumption of the refugee hearings, measures during the COVID-19, and what to do before, during and after your refugee hearing.

You can also watch the video from this session here.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we dedicate our podcast to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on women facing an abusive relationship. We also review how women are trapped with their abusers, especially migrant women that do not have access to resources. Click here to listen.

If you or someone you know is being abused, you can contact The Assaulted Women’s Helpline:

  • GTA: 416.863.0511
  • GTA TTY: 416.364.8762
  • TOLL-FREE: 1.866.863.0511
  • TOLL-FREE TTY: 1.866.863.7868
  • #SAFE (#7233): On your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone

Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!

As countries implemented lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, violence against women, especially domestic violence, intensified – in some countries, calls to helplines have increased five-fold.

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, will focus on amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence during the COVID-19 crisis, focus on prevention, and collection of data that can improve life-saving services for women and girls.

This year’s theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”.Like in previous years, this year’s International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2020, which is International Human Rights Day.

Several public events are being coordinated for this year’s International Day. Iconic buildings and landmarks will be ‘oranged’ to recall the need for a violence-free future.

» More details: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
(UN Website)

Are you having challenges finding house?

Our upcoming webinar, “Housing Needs for Immigrants,” will focus on one of the main challenges for newcomers, housing.

Join us and find useful information related to this issue. Through this informative session you can learn about:

  • Types of Housing
  • Sharing a Budget
  • Where and How to search
  • Viewing the apartment
  • Rental applications
  • Signing the rental contract
  • Moving supports
  • Your rights and responsibilities
  • Resources

You can also check the following document for more information:

Video: How to read food date labels and packaging

In this video session we provide information about:

  1. Difference between expiration date and best-before date
  2. Food safety once a food has passed the best-before date
  3. Recognize the amount of food that is unnecessarily wasted in Canada and feel equipped to reduce waste at home.
  4. Know the difference between the various date label terms
  5. Understand when food is safe, or not safe to eat.

Bridging Program for Students With Precarious Immigration Status

The FCJ Refugee Centre has been partnering with the Pro Bono Students Osgoode Chapter since 2011. Since September 2018, a group of students from the CARL U of T Chapter joined our efforts to support us as well. For this coming year, in September 2020 the Pro Bono U of T Chapter will be part of our program.

The Uprooted Peoples Protection Program provides information for refugee claimants and non-status people, including conducting research on country conditions and other immigration and refugee issues, assistance with filling out legal forms, conducting in-person sessions for people looking for immigration information.

Students focus their work in assisting clients to complete their Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations applications for Permanent Residence. Another unique aspect of this program is the provision of information specifically to people who have had their refugee claim denied, but are unable to return to their country.

This comprehensive team works to support them in any and all ways possible with their refugee appeal.

 

 

The Bestie Book: Summer Edition

Bestie Book Summer 2020

We know that the last couple of months have been anyhing but ordinary. But if there’s one thing we want you to know, it’s that we’re still here. Our door is still open. Home is still here. And you can count on us.

We feel so privileged to have been able to move our weekly meetings to online formats, so that we can still see your beautiful faces every week! We’re loving watching movies together, and we’ll find new ways of safely being together in person as soon as we possibly can.

We’re coming in to the beautiful summer months, and we’re all enjoying the beautiful warm weather and sunny days. And even though our usual summer activities will have to be shuffled around a little bit, we’re going to make sure we have lots of fun, enjoy the sunshine, and spend as much of the beautiful summer months together as we can.

So that’s why we’re sending this to you. Something small to chronicle this time, and to share memories. And something you can have in your home to remind you that we’re here, waiting until we can sit around the kitchen table together again. Around that table, we are a community, and we are a family. Until then, wherever your kitchen tables are; spread out across Toronto and all borders; wherever you are, those kitchen tables belong to all of us.

To read the book click here.

With all our love,
Natasha, Cutu, Tee-Jay & Natalie
FCJ Youth Network

Working with Youth during COVID-19: Opportunities for Youth

During this webinar we will talk about the impact of the COVID 19 in young people. The FCJ youth network members will share their stories and also will talk about the initiatives/activities that they implemented during the last period.

Join us and find out how to get involve in more virtual events that will help you to survive the pandemic.

Webinar is scheduled on Thursday August 27 at 10:30 am

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8877227493786003984

How to Apply for a Work Permit: Webinar in English and Spanish

This session will allow you to find out if you can apply for a work permit and how to do it.

After identifying if you are eligible, we will provide a guide that describes the steps who have to follow in order to get or extend your work permit.

The information is based on the experience we have at FCJ Refugee Centre supporting our clients applying to a work permit.

Here are the links:

Solidarity Steps for the FCJ Refugee Centre

We’re excited to announce that we’re beginning an exciting new fundraising campaign! Solidarity Steps for the FCJ Refugee Centre!

Take from us what you need, and give to each other what you can.

This is the guiding philosophy of not only the FCJ Refugee Centre, but is at the very core of our common humanity.

In recent months, we have seen an enormous shift in the ways in which we interact, live our daily lives, and see the world around us.

We have seen the turmoil that can be brought out in people when they are forced into situations of fear and vulnerability – circumstances so many of us who grew up in Canada with so many privileges have never had to face.

But we’ve also seen the generosity of the spirit of our community.

Our mandate is to support all uprooted people, and to keep our door open to the community. From our homes to yours, we stand with you in solidarity. Our door is open today as it will be tomorrow.

Please check out our page, and stay tuned for more updates, weekly calls to action, how you can stay engaged, and more information about our upcoming walk-a-thon!

Stay safe, stay well, and stay kind.

In solidarity,
The FCJ Refugee Centre Community

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