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

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:

• Webinar in English
• Sesión en español

Our Annual Report is ready. You are welcome to read and download the document, and find out all the programs implemented during 2019 thanks to all our supporters.

 

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

On the World Refugee Day  we prepared a special Newsletter to say thank you for your support! Every Action Counts!

At FCJ Refugee Centre we continue working in solidarity with precarious migrants. We understand that this is a difficult and uncertain time for many. We recognize that precarious migrants are severely affected already as racialized and marginalized persons. With the health and safety of our entire community in mind we did some adjustments to our daily work environment.

Thank you for join us at our virtual Open House. We wanted  to show you how we have kept the door open for precarious migrants.

We continue to remotely offer as many services as possible by phone, e-mail, or any other electronic means available to us. Due to the donations and help received we have been able to continue offering our services and supporting individuals and families who do not have access to emergency benefits.

During the Open House we launched our video “Borderless Humanity” to say thank you for your support through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transparency is how we say thank you.

Count on us. We are open.

We are expanding our ways to connect with you. Now you can also find us through WhatsApp: 437 217 37 86.

For any inquiries related to your immigration situation or any settlement support you need during these difficult times, please feel free to contact us through our phone number 416-469-9754, or you can send us a message at our WhatsApp 437 217 37 86.

You can also contact any of the emails or extensions below:

• Loly Rico, Co-director: Ext. 224 lolyrico@fcjrefugeecentre.org
• Francisco Rico-Martinez, Co-director: Ext. 227 franciscorico@fcjrefugeecentre.org
• Diana Gallego, Associate Director: Ext. 225 dianagallego@fcjrefugeecentre.org
• Migrant Workers Mobile Program & Anti-Human Trafficking Program: 647 971 2153 (Whatsapp also available)

You can make a difference!

At 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 provide information through our virtual sessions every Thursday or though our Borderless Voices podcast.

We continue to remotely offer our services you can connect with us by phone or e-mail. We are supporting families who do not have access to the emergency benefits, and we distribute food every week.

Your donation will make a difference to a non-status migrant, family, child, youth, that was not left behind… it will make a difference for that borderless humanity that we are dreaming to build… Your donation is making an immeasurable difference in the lives of all non status people enriching our community.

Thank you for your donation… It has made a difference for that one. For that refugee, for that non-status migrant, family, child, youth, that was not left behind… It made a difference for that borderless humanity that we are dreaming to build… Your donation is making an immeasurable difference in the lives of all non-status people enriching our community.

Since the last week of March, when we just started our campaign “From Our Kitchen Table to Yours: in solidarity with precarious migrants,” our Centre has received many donations, monetary ones in our Emergency Fund, a lot of grocery cards, art and craft supplies, games and books for children and youth; one-time donation, to provide rent support to 25 individuals and 25 families; weekly food donation from Second Harvest; many smiles, signals of solidarity and gratitude…

So far, it makes a difference for just under 150 individuals and families. The number is growing by the day. Thanks for donating to support one refugee… One migrant at a time.

Thanks for donating to support one refugee… One migrant at a time.

Thank you for acknowledging a population so often isolated, marginalized and forgotten… For walking with us… For walking together with uprooted people… For building a borderless humanity…by supporting one refugee or migrant at a time.

Thanks, just thanks.

FCJ Refugee Centre

We started collecting art supplies for non-status children and we were so happy to find these letters in each of the art bags. These letters defined our local neighbour… Canada. Keep doing what you are doing. Humanity need you. Keep safe, well and strong… We are together in this.

Special thanks to Maeve and Tate for your wonderful letters. They are 6 and 8 years old and send their beautiful words in solidarity with non-status children.

For decades, we as a community have gathered around our own kitchen table. To share coffee in the morning, to share lunch, have meetings, celebrations, birthdays, conversations and build connections. We’ve worked to support people as they build new homes around kitchen tables in their new lives here. But that process has been incredibly difficult in recent months, and this crisis has magnified those challenges for so many.

For too many people, the kitchen table where families want to gather to break bread and share a meal has become a reminder of the food security they don’t have access to.

With the initiative “From Our Kitchen Table to Yours” we have provided food security measures to 30 homes already just in the last week. In the coming days, due to the recent increase in your generous donations, we now have the capacity to reach another 40 families.

Your donation is making an immeasurable difference in the lives of precarious migrants (families, youth, adults and seniors) – all of the people who make up our enriched community. So this is a brief message of thanks to you.

Thank you for grace and solidarity.

Thank you for acknowledging a population so often isolated, marginalized and forgotten.

Thank you for walking with us…and for walking together with uprooted people.

Thank you for building a borderless humanity by supporting one refugee or migrant at a time.

Thanks, just thanks.

As part of our COVID-19 response we are looking for support for women at our shelter, youth and other precarious migrants that do not have access to the emergency benefits and measures during the present health crisis. Residents of our houses, youth and clients have been laid off and need a lot of help.

You are welcome to support with grocery gift cards, baskets with personal care kits, or by visiting our website and making your donation through Canada Help.

Look for the category “Fund” and select “From our kitchen’s table… to yours: In solidarity with precarious migrants.”

You can also read about the situation they are facing in the following article:

» As coronavirus wreaks havoc, these precarious workers have ‘no one to turn to’ (Toronto Star)

Also you can find other initiatives we are implementing in this Open Letter signed by community organizations and groups in Ontario in solidarity with precarious migrants and their families.

In unique times like this, Canadians must come together and not leave anyone behind.

Thank you in advance for your support, walking together with uprooted people and in solidarity.

FCJ Refugee Centre Community

We care about your health and wellbeing and want to make sure you are informed. Please find useful information in our resource booklet How To… Find Help

This is a toolkit with information about how to find support during the crisis of the COVID-19.

The document provides helpful resources. Keep in mind that most of the information is focused in Toronto and it might change depending on the situation of the health emergency.

Content:
(Immigration and settlement support)

• How COVID-19 is impacting immigration and refugee procedures
• Exemptions & travel restrictions
• How to make a refugee claim inland under COVID 19 instructions
• Processing times and extensions
• Health support
• Access to foodbanks
• Shelter in Toronto
• What to do in domestic violence situations
• Access to Ontario Works
• Etc.

More than 30 community organizations and groups in Ontario endorsed an Open Letter in Solidarity with Migrant Workers, Non-Status individuals and their families as community workers, organizers, volunteers, teachers, students and residents of Ontario, Canada.

The letter is in Solidarity with Migrant Workers, Non-Status individuals and their families as community workers, organizers, volunteers, teachers, students and residents of Ontario, Canada.

In unique times like this, Canadians must come together and not leave anyone behind.
Walking together with uprooted people and in solidarity:

To read the letter click here.

The FCJ Refugee Centre continues to work in solidarity with precarious migrants. We recognize that these populations are severely affected by every single precarity already as racialized and marginalized persons, and with the health and safety of our entire community in mind, we will be making some adjustments to our daily work environment. We will continue to remotely offer as many services as possible by phone, e-mail, or any other electronic means available to us.

We are encouraging our staff and volunteers to continue working from home and come to the office only when necessary. Working from the office is only recommended if they do not need to take public transportation or if they feel comfortable doing so and the ride is not long. We are also committed to practicing cleanliness and social distancing at the office as per the recommendations by the public health.

Due to all the information listed above, and with the encouragement of staff, as of today until further notice, we will switch our way of delivering services to:

Limiting in-person services to the most urgent, moving towards phone, email and any other electronic ways available to us. Particularly related to applications and procedures where the relevant Federal and Provincial institutions have relaxed deadlines, and increased flexibility of their appointments and intake.

For any inquiries on any issue or situation related to immigration and refugee process, as well as about all our services please either contact us at the emails below or call 416-469-9754 and dial the extension below:

Loly Rico, co-director: Ext. 224 lolyrico@fcjrefugeecentre.org

Francisco Rico-Martinez, co-director: Ext. 227 franciscorico@fcjrefugeecentre.org

Diana Gallego, Associate Director: Ext. 225 dianagallego@fcjrefugeecentre.org

We will still be serving clients who are in urgent need due to deadlines that are still in effect, or fundamental needs, while limiting their presence in the office to the most minimum (e.g. one family member). Such clients will only come after they confirm that they haven’t had any recent travel outside of Canada, haven’t been in contact with anyone who has travelled recently, don’t have any presenting Covid-19 symptoms, and haven’t been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 symptoms (cough, fever etc.)

Until further notice, the Primary Care Clinic, which is managed by the Inner City Health Associates, will provide appointments on a virtual care mode or via phone as need. If clients need to renew medication we encourage them to call our Centre and we will explain the procedures.

We have cancelled all our group sessions & workshops until further notice.

We thank you for your patience in this time and look forward to continuing to work together with all uprooted people and our entire community.

In Solidarity,

The FCJ Refugee Centre Team