Title: GAY & LESBIAN (LGBT) Refugee Sponsorship Group at MCCT
Location:
, Ontario,
Categories: Human Rights
Culture
LGBT Rights
Refugee Rights
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
June 1 07 to December 31 13
Description:
OUR MISSION:
TO ACT AS A SPONSOR FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO WANT TO ESCAPE THE PERSECUTION AND CLAIM REFUGEE STATUS IN CANADA BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Dear Friends,
Thank you for considering to sign up to help with the MCCT lLGBTQ Refugee Sponsor Team! We look forward to working with all of you in forming our team, and in helping to transform the lives of others who are less fortunate.
Learn More about Metropolitan Community Church Toronto (MCCT) at http://www.mcctoronto.com
Here is a brief description of the team's role and responsibility:
PURPOSE OF THE TEAM
There are people throughout the world who face emotional and physical harm every day because of their sexual orientation. In some countries, this harassment is overlooked and sometimes even condoned by the police and the government. Our group's mission will be to act as a sponsor for those persons who want to escape this persecution and claim refugee status in Canada.
The role of the sponsor is to provide a refugee with care, lodging, settlement assistance and support for the duration of the sponsorship period (usually 12 months). Our team will take on this role for the church, as well as selecting applications to sponsor, presenting approved applications to the MCCT Board of Directors for approval, communicating with the refugee during the application process and waiting period, and providing assistance during the refugee's first 12 months in Canada. Of course, raising the funds necessary to do all if this is our responsibility as well.
MCCT AS A SPONSORING ORGANIZATION
Immigration Canada has designated certain organizations as "Sponsorship Agreement Holders," (SAH) which means that they can submit applications as refugee sponsors without further review of their organization. These SAH's can also designate other organizations as "Co-Sponsors." The United Church of Canada is an SAH, and has agreed to co-sponsor refugee applications with MCCT. Someday, I hope that MCCT will pursue obtaining an SAH of our own.
Help spread the word and post this project on your Facebook Profile
Share
Background:
1. What is the purpose of this program (vision/mission)?
There are people throughout the world who face emotional and physical harm every day because of their sexual orientation. In some countries, this harassment is overlooked and sometimes even condoned by the police and the government. Our group's mission will be to act as a sponsor for those persons who want to escape this persecution and claim refugee status in Canada.
The role of the sponsor is to provide a refugee with care, lodging, settlement assistance and support for the duration of the sponsorship period (usually 12 months). Our team will take on this role for the church, as well as selecting applications to sponsor, presenting approved applications to the MCCT Board of Directors for approval, communicating with the refugee during the application process and waiting period, and providing assistance during the refugee's first 12 months in Canada. Of course, raising the funds necessary to do all if this is our responsibility as well.
In addition we will work with Canadian settlement agencies in the Toronto area to assist the settlement of persons already in transition within Canada. This will help them become aware of the social services and act as a mentor to other refugees who identify as part of the GLBT community.
The Refugee Sponsorship team most clearly fits into the core value of advocacy of MCCT. There are also elements of caring, leadership, and several of the other values. Given the target countries that our refuges are likely to originate from, there is a high likelihood that they will not be Christian. This is consistent with out bedrock belief that God’s love is offered to everyone unconditionally, and that there are many paths to God.
Canadians have a lot to offer the world. We have become leaders in the field of respecting human rights, including full legal protection for sexual minorities. This program will enable MCCT to help more people experience safety and therefore, God’s love.
There are thousands of gay/les/trans people around the world who are experiencing daily persecution simply because of who they are. Helping some of these people come to and settle within Canada will have an immeasurable impact on the quality of their lives.
Objectives:
An additional success factor is to become a “Sponsorship Agreement Holder” (SAH) registered with the Canadian Government. Our first several sponsorships will be under the umbrella of the United Church’s SAH. Our objective is to obtain this designation within 5 years.
What would excellence for this program look like?
Excellence would be providing integrity to the refugee selection process, representing MCCT honorably to the Canadian government and legal community, and providing compassionate settlement assistance to the refugees.
Milestones:
What would success for this program look like?
Success would be supporting FIVE to TEN people already in transition to life in Canada and sponsoring the applications for at least 2 people in the next two years. Since each application has a 50% probability of being accepted by the Canadian government, success will include helping these individuals settle into Canadian life.
Budget:
FUNDRAISING
We can't expect that all refugees will have these funds available, so as the sponsoring organization, we must make sure that we have resources available for them. This doesn't all have to be in cash - donations of goods and services can be included as well.
The government recommends that settling each individual will cost the sponsoring organization (MCCT) around $10,000 to $15,000 in cash and donations in kind. Therefor, in order to be successful the program will have to raise $20,000 to $30,000 over the next two years.
We must develop a strategy for raising the funds necessary to carry out the work of the Refugee Sponsor Team. We cannot expect these resources to come from the MCCT general operating budget - as a mission team, we are expected to be self-funding. Therefore, we must think of and implement fund raising events and other strategies necessary to raise the funds we need.
What are the financial opportunities and financial needs for this program?
Needs:
What training is needed for the coordinating team in order to launch the program?
We need to educate ourselves about the refugee and sponsorship program. Some of the sources available to are: United Church of Canada, S.O.Y. (Supporting Our Youth), and local immigration attorneys including Michael Battista and Doug E
What are the facility needs for this program?
The core team has agreed to meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00. We would appreciate a room booking at MCCT
How will the Core Team implement each component of PALSO?
Prayer – We will open and close meetings in prayer. As well, the team selecting which refugees to sponsor will ask for God’s guidance in their decision making.
Action – This program is all about action: getting refugees into Canada and helping them settle
Learning – Both the MCCT volunteers and the refugees will be in learning mode. The volunteers will be learning about the sponsorship program and learning about other cultures. The refugees will be learning about life in Canada.
Support – The volunteer team will be supporting the refugees in many ways. This is what the program is all about!
Outreach –Our outreach will be across the oceans to help persecuted refugees find a new home in Canada. As well, we will reach out to refugees already residing in settlement facilities in Toronto who identify as part of the GLBT community to become aware and help them secure the services they need to settle effectively.
How will this program be promoted?
Our initial promotion has been during Program Development Sunday’s. Our communication team will be tasked with preparing regular Sunday News articles for the congregation. We will also be working with agencies outside of MCCT (such as the United Church) and they may provide promotional opportunities as well. We are aware that a few years ago the church started the process to sponsor a gay couple to come to Canada. The couple split up and the application was not approved. This led to some disappointment amongst the congregation. We have learned from that experience and our initial communications will focus on the process of sponsorship rather than specific refugees.
Communication with the Congregation
We need to keep the congregation informed as to our activities, and also about our fundraising efforts! We can do this through articles and announcements in Sunday News, Sunday Commercials, announcements, the web site, and any other means available to us.
Even as our team is forming, there is a couple in Jordan who have asked MCCT to sponsor them as refugees. P & K (names withheld to protect privacy) would like to apply for refugee status as a common-law couple, and have been working with Michael Battista, a local immigration attorney who specializes in GLBT immigration issues.
P &K's case is unique, in that they will not require much assistance to settle in Canada. P is actually an American and has previously lived in Toronto. They also have the funds necessary to settle in Canada. However, in Jordan they are not able to live their lives in an open and honest manner. K, a Jordanian, has been the subject of verbal and physical abuse from his family and community. I am attaching a copy of K's statement which is part of his refugee application. {Available on request}
the MCCT Board of Directors has agreed to sponsor their application, as a co-sponsor with the United Church of Canada. If their application is approved, then the Refugee Sponsor Team can help P and K settle in Toronto.
Contact Name: Dan Trepanier
Contact Email Address: RefugeeSponsor@mcctoronto.com
Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Menu
About
Testimonials
