Loly Rico Announced as the 2017 Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award Recipient

For Immediate Release

Loly Rico Announced as the 2017 Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award Recipient

Award ceremony to take place during the Annual Tribute fundraising event

Toronto, Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is proud to announce Loly Rico as the 2017 Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award recipient. Loly is the co-director and founder of FCJ Refugee Centre and an undisputed leader for the rights of refugee women facing violence. The Award, sponsored by Tory’s LLP, is given annually to a woman whose work is dedicated to improving the lives of women experiencing violence.

“We are overjoyed with the nomination of Loly for the Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award,” says Amanda Dale, the Clinic’s Executive Director. “Loly’s work demonstrates her deep solidarity with those whose path she has also walked. She works tirelessly to find practical solutions to meet the daily survival needs of uprooted women, many of whom are survivors of violence and trafficking.”

Loly will receive the Award on June 8, at the Annual Tribute, the largest fundraising event for the Barbra Schlifer Clinic. The Tribute event, hosted by Blakes LLP, will once again feature Marivel Taruc, news co-host of CBC Toronto, as the evening’ s master of ceremonies.

“The event is a beacon to those wanting to inspire change,” says Dale. “For many, the Annual Tribute represents a community coming together to honour the more than 3,800 women who call on the Clinic each year because their lives have been interrupted by violence, and the dedicated women who work to bring safety, compassion, and freedom to the lives of these women”.

The Annual Tribute will take place on Thursday, June 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Daniels Spectrum, located at 585 Dundas Street East. To purchase tickets, please call (416) 323-9149 or go to www.schliferclinic.com/tribute

About Loly Rico

Loly immigrated to Canada with her husband and their children to escape political repression in El Salvador in 1990. Through her experience as a refugee, she became acutely aware of the obstacles encountered by refugees and was determined to assist other refugee women escaping violence.

In 1991, Loly and her husband, Francisco Rico-Martinez, founded the FCJ Refugee Centre, which helps uprooted people overcome the challenges of rebuilding their lives in Canadian society. With an open-door approach, the Centre offers an integrated model of refugee protection, settlement services, and education, including shelter for women and their children in Toronto.

Most recently, Loly played a significant role in building the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network. Under her leadership, the Network works closely with the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario to further the anti-trafficking strategy adopted by both governments. Loly is also the President of the Canadian Council for Refugees, and a past President of the Ontario Coalition of Agencies Serving Immigrants.

Loly’s dedication to human rights and social justice is recognized through her numerous awards. In 2004, she received the Constance E. Hamilton Award for her unflinching contribution to women’s rights. She is also the recipient of the YMCA Peace Medallion, the Canadian Centre for the Victims of Torture’s Trevor Bartram Award, and the Community Leadership Award from the Salvadorian Canadian Association of Toronto.

About Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence, established in the memory of Barbra Schlifer – an idealistic young lawyer whose life was cut short by violence on the night of her call to the bar of Ontario on April 11, 1980. In her memory, the Clinic is a multi-disciplinary, front-line service provider that assists nearly 4,000 women a year to build lives free from violence through counselling, legal representation, and language interpretation. Since it was founded in 1985, the Clinic has assisted more than 60,000 women.

 

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How to provide support clients detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

This document has 2 sections: the first section is an explanation of what happens at the Toronto Immigration Holding Centre. The second section describes how a refugee house or any other agency can become a community-based alternative to detention. The FCJ Refugee Centre has been supporting detainees at the Immigration Holding Centre through the TORONTO REFUGEE AFFAIRS COUNCIL (TRAC) for more than a decade. Through this experience the Centre is trying to identify how the refugee houses at the Coalition of Service Providers, or any other agency, can provide a better support to this population.

The guide provides a quick overview of the release process for detained immigrants at the Toronto Immigration Holding Centre (TIHC). Our goal is to increase awareness among service providers and the wider population about issues of detention. We hope this guide is a helpful tool on procedures and promising practices to best support detainees in their transitioning process to independent living.

To read the guide click here

International Women’s Day

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At FCJ we work  with women who have experienced violence, forced displacement and other traumas.  At FCJ Refugee Centre every day is Women’s Day because every day we are proud to support and advocate to access to services, justice. We open our doors to welcome them and to make them feel at home.

A time to celebrate solidarity between women: FCJ Refugee Centre commemorate the movement for Women’s rights.

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Volunteer opportunities at FCJ Refugee Centre

The first step to become a volunteer at FCJ Refugee Centre is to participate in the Orientation Session. Our upcoming Orientation session is scheduled on  February 3rd from 10 am to 11 am at our location (208 Oakwood Ave. Toronto). During this session we will talk about our organization, how it works, programs, activities and current volunteer positions available.

To register for this session please fill out  the VOLUNTEER FORM, and sent it with your Resume  to Carolina Teves: cteves@fcjrefugeecentre.org

Some of the volunteer positions we are opening for this period of time are:

RECEPTION/FRONT DESK.

INTERPRETATION/TRANSLATION

VOLUNTEER DATA ENTRY CLERK

COMMUNICATION

After the presentation you can choose among the volunteer positions. Please keep in mind that our office is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Once you already identify the area you want to volunteer, you are ready to sign the volunteer form and confidentiality agreement with FCJ Refugee Centre; and you are ready to start your volunteer position at our centre.

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Calendar 2017 Ready Tour and RAD info-session

This is the calendar from January to June on the upcoming sessions of Hearing Preparation and Refugee Appeal Session.
Both sessions are free and take place in the afternoon time at the IRB location. If you have clients who would like to participate in this sessions they just have to contact Carolina Teves: cteves@fcjrefugeecentre.org
Calendar RT and RAD 2017
Front line workers are welcome to join the sessions with their clients.
If your clients need interpretation they are welcome to bring a someone who can support  them with interpretation.
Front line workers are welcome to join the sessions with their clients.
If your clients need interpretation they are welcome to bring someone with them.

If you want to register clients, in addition to the name, please send the following information:
For clients who want to register to the Ready Tour, this is the information we need:

  1. Name of the participant (s) that will join the Ready Tour
  2. E-mail contact
  3. telephone number
  4. Country of origin
  5. When is your hearing date?
  6. If you do not have a hearing date yet, please explain the reason.
  7. Do you have a legal representative?
  8. How did you learn about the Ready Tour?
  9. If you require an interpreter for the READY tour what is the preferred language

For clients who want to register to the RAD info session I need:

  1. Name
  2. Email Contact
  3. Telephone number
  4. Country of origin
  5. Date of decision
  6. Do you have a legal representative?
  7. How did you learn about the Ready Tour?
  8. If you require an interpreter for the READY tour what is the preferred language

RAD INFO SESSION
RAD information sessions will provide refugee appellants with a FREE opportunity to be better prepared for the presentation of their appeal before the RAD.
Rejected refugees will learn the steps to follow and how to document your appeal before the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD).
RAD info-sessions are hosted by the Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants in Southern Ontario in partnership with the Refugee Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
CALENDAR RAD INFO SESSIONS (Refugee appeal process)
(Refugee Appeal process) 
Month              Second Thursday        Fourth Thursday
JANUARY             12th                       26th
FEBRUARY           9TH                        23th
MARCH                 9TH                        23th
APRIL                    13th                       27th
MAY                      11th                       25th
JUNE                     8th                         22th

READY TOUR
A READY TOUR provides Refugee Claimants with a FREE opportunity to be better prepared for their hearing, see a hearing room, learn what happens at the hearing, and ask questions about the process.

Month                 First Thursday    Third Thursday
JANUARY             5th                         19th
FEBRUARY           2nd                        16th
MARCH                 2nd                        16th
APRIL                    6th                         20th
MAY                      4th                         8th
JUNE                     1st                          15th

Seeds of Hope: Stories written by FCJ Youth and allies

SEEDS OF HOPE “Creating a future in the shadows”

Stories written by FCJ Youth and allies

A window onto experiences that are so rarely shared, highlighting voices that are too often silenced.

GET YOUR BOOK FOR ONLY $20.OO
 (+$3:00 shipping)

The proceeds will go towards scholarships for youth.

 If you want to receive it by mail (the shipping amount might vary if you order more than one book)

How to get your book:

At FCJ Refugee Centre location 208 Oakwood Ave. Toronto, ON M6E 2V4

By Mail: Send your cheque payable to FCJ Refugee Centre (Please include shipping in the total) or you can pay through  canadahelps

 

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VOTE for FCJ Refugee Centre

Please VOTE for the FCJ Refugee Centre and the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network Project to WIN the AVIVA community funding. HOPE is a project aimed to respond holistically and meet the needs of victims/survivors of human trafficking victims by providing them with services and protection.

To vote, follow these 5 easy steps in 2 minutes.

  1. Click on the link below:

https://www.avivacommunityfund.org/?utm_source=Aviva+Community+Fund+2016&utm_campaign=f4db04971a-Voting_is_now_open10_11_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e689cb8e3e-f4db04971a-156423197

  1. Register yourself: Name, email address and password
  2. Go back to your email, click on the link you will be sent. You will be redirected again to the AVIVA Website.
  3. On that page, scroll down, Search FCJ REFUGEE CENTRE on “Search project titles and organisations” and click on “see more”
  4. Kindly cast your 18 VOTES 

Submit your votes today! , voting closes on October 28

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Human trafficking survivors led initiative

As part of the 2016 Victims and Survivors of Crime Week “The Power of Our Voices”, FCJ Refugee Centre in partnership with East Metro Youth Services embarked on a project to provide a safe space for survivors of human trafficking to voice their opinion on services and protection available and a lack thereof. The initiative was funded by the Department of Justice Canada. Such project was long overdue as survivors are left out of the conversations and decision-making pertaining to accessing services and solutions to combat trafficking in persons. The ultimate goal of the project is to lay the foundation of survivor led and designed toolkit for service providers outlining promising practices and accurate support.

To read the Summary click here

human-trafficking-report

Workshops Series Schedule

FCJ Refugee Centre is offering a Series of workshops for women at FCJ refugee Centre :

You are invited to attend any of the following interesting workshops. To see the calendar please click here

  1. Healthy Lifestyle
  2. Reclaiming your body after sexual assault
  3. Healthy Relationships including sexual health
  4. Freedom from Abuse
  5. Tenants’ rights and Landlord
  6. Life Skills
  7. Workplace Violence and Harassment
  8. Sexual Harassment and the law of Consent
  9. Career and Job Training
  10. LGBTQ+ communities
  11. Indigenous Peoples History
  12. Self-Defense Class

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Job Opportunity at FCJ Refugee Centre

Maintenance and Supplies Coordinator
Application deadline: October 7th, 2016
Salary and Hours: $15:50 per hour, 25 hours per week for one year (52 weeks)
Organizational Information:
FCJ Refugee Centre strives to meet the diverse needs of uprooted people in communities across Ontario. FCJ Refugee Centre attempts to address the problems of poverty and lack of resources, isolation, and discrimination through community-based programs which promote self-help, personal growth, community economic development and social justice.
The FCJ Refugee Centre has a mandate to:
 Provide shelter and basic life necessities such as food for newcomer women and children.
 Provide to refugees and other uprooted people support services, including counselling, legal information, access to education, translation, referrals to legal assistance, employment trainings and other services.
 Assist refugees and other uprooted people to adjust to Canadian society.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Key Responsibilities:
 Responsible for the operation of the 4 transitional houses
 Maintenance and repairs of the houses
 Maintenance of the common parts of the properties, including snow removal and grass cutting
 Co-ordination of clothing and other donations
 Assistance to the Transitional Housing Program Coordinator
 Co-ordination and distribution of food donations
 Oversight of the cleaning and waste management of the properties
 Attendance of resident meetings
 Maintain positive relationships with residents
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Qualifications:
 Handy work experience
 Result oriented, highly motivated, and able to work effectively, independently or within a team setting
 Strong organizational, time management, and planning skills and the ability to multi-task.
 Excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills
 Effective cross-cultural communication skills
 Cultural sensitivity and experience with working with new immigrants from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
 Fluent in English, ability to speak a second language is an asset.
 Driver License is an asset
As an employer who values diversity in its workforce, we encourage candidates to self-identify as members of the following designated groups: women, visible minority, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities.
Interested applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and résumé by email only (in word format) by October 7th, 2016 by 5:00 pm to:
Loly Rico
FCJ Refugee Centre
208 Oakwood Avenue
Toronto, ON M6E 2V4
Email: lolyrico@fcjrefugeecentre.org
We thank all applicants; however, due to the volume of applicants, only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.
To learn more about FCJ Refugee Centre please visit our website at: www.fcjrefugeecentre.org

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