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Refugee
Sponsorship
Update
By Biniam Goitom, Refugee Program Coordinator
As in other aspects of our lives, the prevalence of COVID-19 in the past two years has had an adverse effect on the overall work of refu- gee sponsorship. As such, in 2021 and 2022 the refugee desk has observed a slight decrease in the number of requests from congre- gations and presbyteries to spon- sor named refugees from overseas through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.
During this period, applica- tion processes by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the various Canadian visa offices abroad have signifi- cantly declined. While process- ing has picked up pace since, the Sponsorship Agreement Holders association (of which PWS&D is a member) continues to call on IRCC to further speed up applica- tion processing times than what has become a norm.
2021 Sponsorships
In 2021, the PCC’s allocation from IRCC allowed us to submit spon- sorship applications for 81 peo- ple—a number which matches the capacity for what the refugee sponsorship team can currently handle. By the end of December, the applications for 81 people, plus two additional individuals (a total of 83), were submitted. This was made possible through the effort and dedication poured into this ministry by sponsors at a time when the whole world was grappling with COVID-19. The last quarter of 2021 was also when we saw increased arrivals of refu- gees, compared to 2020, when there were none.
2022 Sponsorships
This year, there has been a signifi- cant delay from IRCC in allocating the global cap for sponsorship to the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) organizations, such as the PCC. Normally, IRCC allo- cates these spaces to SAHs within the first two months of every year, but this year we waited until July before allocations were confirmed.
IRCC has stated that this delay in allocating annual quotas is due
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PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
An Education for Aline
A Syrian family sponsored by Beach- es Presbyterian Church arrives in Canada in November 2020.
to other priorities, especially the situation in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, as well as Afghan refu- gee applications.
A current major concern of the refugee sponsorship program is the considerable delay in ap- plication processing at IRCC and the various Canadian visa offices overseas. IRCC has reported a historic backlog—a little over two million applications for different streams of immigration, including refugee applications, are being processed with limited capacity and resources. IRCC is report- edly taking measures to deal with the delays and backlog of appli- cations, but in the interim many lives are caught in the system.
In the days of COVID-19 and processing delays, the uniquely Canadian Private Sponsorship of Refugees program seems to be challenged on all fronts; the cour- age, determination and welcom- ing hearts of Canadians proves that hope is still alive even in times when it feels like it’s fading away. Hope is indeed required for those who are in dire circumstances as they wait to start a new life.
If you are interested in learn- ing more about refugee sponsor- ship, PWS&D’s sponsorship staff are ready to assist. To learn more or to support this ministry, visit WeRespond.ca/refugee-sponsorship.
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
In Malawi’s Phalombe district, 14-year-old Aline lives with her parents and three siblings. When she was in grade nine, Aline be- gan attending Neno Girls Sec- ondary School, where PWS&D provides scholarship support for students in need.
In part due to their own lack of education, Aline’s parents are only able to generate income through their small-scale subsist- ence farm. A series of climate challenges, including unpredict- able rains and droughts over the years, made things difficult for them financially. They survive by taking on day labour at other farms, which hardly ensures they meet their basic needs.
Consequently, Aline’s parents could not afford to pay her school fees and contemplated withdraw- ing her from school. But, after re- viewing the family’s financial situ- ation, as well as Aline’s school
performance and behaviour, the school selected Aline to receive a bursary.
Since then, Aline has been do- ing very well in her courses and hopes to pursue a nursing career in the future. Attending boarding school at Neno allows Aline to focus on her studies without the burden of domestic responsibili- ties like fetching water and caring for young siblings. For the family, it is both a short-term sacrifice and a long-term investment to have Aline in school.
Filling in the Gaps
Around the world, as many as 48% of girls are out of school. In primary school alone, this means that 15 million girls are out of school, compared to 10 million boys.
PWS&D knows how impera- tive it is to educate girls. Work- ing with local partners in Malawi, Guatemala and Afghanistan, we are working to help more children access opportunities to create
PWS&D-supported Neno Girls Sec- ondary School provides opportuni- ties for marginalized students to receive an education.
brighter futures.
The importance of education
for a child’s future can’t be over- stated. Education provides chil- dren with the ability to navigate the world with social-emotional skills, stability, opportunities and self-confidence. The benefits of education for girls extend not only to them individually but to their fu- ture families. According to the UN, a child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five. And every extra year of education reduces the probability of infant mor tality by 5-10%.
75 Years of Practical Compassion
By PWS&D Communications
More and more families around the world are facing food insecu- rity due to COVID-19, conflict and climate change. As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, we remember with gratitude how Presbyterians have responded with their prayers, their financial support and their presence during past crises.
The following is an excerpt from Practical Compassion, PWS&D’s new book commemo- rating 75 years of the church’s
work in development, relief and refugee sponsorship.
A famine made worse by po- litical unrest gripped Ethio- pia between 1983 and 1985. Over a million people died and 400,000 were left as refugees. Presbyterians raised $250,000 for the Africa Famine Appeal, and also accessed government matching funds, reaching Ethio- pia as well as 24 other African nations affected by famine. PWS&D’s ecumenical partners brought emergency food relief, emergency shelter and medi-
cal care, even- tually growing into long-term development projects around conservation agriculture and sustainable food production. “I remember go- ing to Montreal for the launch- ing of a cargo ship, Happiness
II, which was taking a load of grain to Ethiopia,” recalls Jean Davidson, PWS&D’s first di- rector. “We were invited to the bridge to have a look as the last of the grain was loaded. David Kilgour, then a sitting MP (also Presbyterian), was there in his parliamentary capacity. So were several other inter-church folks. There was a brief service, bless- ing the cargo on its way and the crew taking it there.”
Grain is no longer shipped to Ethiopia (or other food insecure countries). The last such ship- ment was in 2005. Now, local commodities are sourced in- stead. It’s a change, according to Sam VanderEnde, who worked in Ethiopia since 1994 as Cana- dian Foodgrains Bank’s regional representative, that allows for re- spect, dignity and empowerment of the local population.
To learn more about PWS&D’s work over the past 75 years or to order a copy of Practical Com- passion, visit WeRespond.ca/ Practical-Compassion.