World Refugee Day at the YMCA: Baptista's Y Story
Today is World Refugee Day, a day which calls on us to “recall our common humanity, celebrate tolerance and diversity and open our hearts to refugees everywhere”.
Canada has always been a beacon of hope for refugees wishing to start a new chapter of their lives in a safe place; in 2014 alone, 23,285 refugees were admitted to Canada. The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to building healthy communities, reflected in the programs and services we offer to new immigrants.
The Client Support Services Program (CSS) is a province-wide initiative providing up to one year of case management support to Government Assisted Refugees (GARs). The program is a collaborative partnership between seven organizations in Ontario: COSTI Immigrant Services, Reception House Waterloo Region, Multicultural Council of Windsor/Essex County, the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Catholic Centre for Immigrants, London Cross Cultural Learner Centre and Wesley Urban Ministries. Six partners provide case management support for Government-Assisted Refugees in their communities across the province, and the YMCA of Greater Toronto provides regional coordination support to these organizations. Since 2008, CSS has served over 15,000 refugees, a quarter of those being youth.
The CSS' Regional Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was established in 2013 to ensure the unique needs of GAR youth are addressed in the CSS program from a youth perspective. It provides a safe space for GAR youth to share their life experiences and contribute to relevant youth initiatives, develop leadership and communication skills, and engage in making their communities welcoming and supportive to refugee youth needs.
One of the first YAC members was Baptista Shimwe, who arrived in Canada from Uganda when he was 14 years old. During the two years Baptista served on the CSS YAC, he worked with fellow members to develop welcome resources that provide useful and relevant information for newly arrived refugee youth about everything from enrolling in high school, to language programs, to learning about working and volunteering in Canada. The “education welcome letters” continue to be shared with newly arrived refugee youth in the CSS program.
Baptista Shimwe, former member of the YAC.
“Arriving in Canada at the age of 14, I had limited knowledge of where to get what. I got a lot of help from Canadians especially the refugees who had resettled in Canada before me. I benefited greatly from these individuals who gave their precious time to ease my first few years in Canada. For that reason, I have also designated time to support the community, by helping people like me. I have benefited from the support of others and have learned the importance of service to the community. Being part of the YMCA Client Support Services (CSS) Youth Advisory Council (YAC) program gave me a lot of pleasure. Through this program, I had a chance not only to support my community but also to share my experience with a larger audience. I believe the youth resources that I have helped prepare for the CSS YAC program will help a lot of young people who are, and who will be arriving in Canada in the near future. As a youth ambassador, I have benefited and learned as much as I have offered.”
For more information about how the YMCA is supporting refugees as they build their lives in the Greater Toronto Area, click here.
