In a Refugee Claimant’s Shoes
Written By Inasmuch Community Society
Imagine yourself in the shoes of a Refugee Claimant. You have had to flee from your country of origin with only what you could carry. Your journey included hiding in several other cities within your country before you decided you must get your family out the country all together to preserve your lives.
What did you do wrong to deserve this treatment? In one word, "Nothing". Your life was threatened because you stood up for human rights, or questioned the government regarding atrocities it committed, or the government used you, and when you were no longer of use to them, they tried to kill you, or perhaps you were a wealthy business owner who was targeted by cartels, who extorted you until you could not work any harder to meet their increasing monetary demands, and you had to run to save your life and the lives of your family.
You arrive in Canada and have started the complicated process of claiming asylum.
People assume that now that you are in Canada, your problems are over. But in some ways your problems are just beginning. When you arrived at the airport in Vancouver the immigration officers took all your id and passports, and you were told not to leave the country until you have a hearing. You have been told your hearing may be as early as in 5 months, or up to 18 months from now. In your country you couldn't trust the police or the government. You don't know who you can trust in Canada either.
You long to speak your language with someone from your country, but you know to be safe you must avoid people from your home country, in case they get word back to your enemies, that you are here in Canada. You haven't even told your extended family where you are, for their safety, and your own.
You want to get a job as soon as possible, but it may be up to 2 months to get your work permit and you've heard that employers want to hire people with Canadian experience, which you don't have. Your English is minimal, and you've been told that your Master's Degree doesn't count here. In fact, if you want to continue in your former career, you will have to start from nothing and pay international student fees.
You meet people from Inasmuch who offer you a place to live for up to 6 months while you begin to rebuild your life. After about 2 weeks you can finally sleep again, or at least for a few hours at a time which is longer than you have slept in an awfully long time. The staff of Inasmuch helps you with arranging transportation to Vancouver for your check ins with immigration, gives you a referral to get your resume done, helps you register for Income Assistance, arranges a trip to Salvation Army where you can get up to $50.00 of clothing, provides a weekly food basket and much more.
You enroll in the Inasmuch ESL Program and are warmly welcomed by teachers and hosts who know you by name and are happy to see you. They treat you with kindness and dignity. In a country where you still need to hide, a loving teacher volunteering their time, knows you are a protected person and doesn't ask you personal questions. You are safe here!
These are examples of the real experiences of many of those who have come to Canada as Refugee Claimants. They deserve our help!
It could have happened to you or me if we had been born in another country.