A Newcomer’s Needs: How You Can Help

When DJC members Eve-Lynn, Kathy, Ellen, Ruth and Dorothy attended the Refugee Shabbat on April 4 this year, they had no idea that they would leave as members of a Constituent Group supporting a refugee.  But when a JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) speaker announced that a 40-something Ugandan woman was slated to arrive in Toronto in just two and a half weeks’ time, with absolutely no one to support her, the group of five banded together to help (Vivien joined later).  They knew very little about Z (we’re keeping her name anonymous), who had been residing in Hong Kong as an asylum seeker for eight years.  

For Eve-Lynn and Kathy, the decision to step up was easy. They had played a key role in the settlement of the Syrian Mohammed family a few years ago and had found that experience enriching. So that made them want to do it again.

From the moment Z stepped onto Canadian soil on April 23, there was a mad rush to help her settle in. Kathy and Dorothy braved wall to wall traffic to welcome her at the airport. “It was so exciting,” says Kathy. “She’s a really lovely person.” They also found her wifi and cell service to help her feel less alone. Other members of the DJC Constituent Group oriented her to the TTC, took her to the bank to open an account, got her a SIN number, and took her shopping for urgently needed items such as clothes for cold weather.  Z has told the group she cannot believe how much support she has gotten from them.   

But the toughest challenge was finding Z affordable housing.  Few landlords wanted to lease a place to a tenant without references or even a credit score.  After viewing eight apartments, the ninth one finally worked out, and Z will be moving there on June 15.

There was just the small matter of garbage disposal left to learn. After getting an orientation to Canadian waste,  Z was still puzzled. “This plastic thing, does it go into garbage, recycling, or the green bin?” she wondered.  The group told her to just copy what her neighbours were doing. Recently, Z took out her first blue bin.  It was a proud moment.

Her supporters are gratified by Z’s overall progress. “She is feeling more confident, making decisions that are right for her,” says Kathy. “She is doing really well.”

Eve-Lynn agrees. “It’s so great to see her become a Canadian citizen.”

But though Z has made many amazing strides, she still needs your help. She will be moving into an unfurnished studio apartment in just two weeks, and has only a very limited budget to make her house into a home.

If you would like to support Z, she still needs the following (in good condition):

• A moving van for June 15 and volunteer movers

• Sewing machine

• Rice cooker

• Blender

• Iron and ironing board

• Other household items

• Sofa and small armchair

• Kitchen items – pots and pans, implements, cutlery, cups

• Small kitchen table with 4 chairs

• Contact Vivien Fellegi vfellegi@rogers.com with photos of any potential donations

Written by Vivien Fellegi on behalf of the DJC Social Justice Committee