Refugee Outreach Project 2003

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

The refugee outreach project will increase opportunities for refugees to become involved with local faith communities, for pastoral care, participation and building supportive communities.
What is the purpose of the project?
Refugees face many challenges when they arrive in Canada, including the practical challenges of food and lodging, the legal challenges of gaining status, and the personal challenges of an abrupt transition into a new place. Many refugees live in limbo for long periods of time, not able to make decisions about their lives or commitments to their communities. The project will reach out to make connection with refugees to link them to faith communities that can be supportive, as well as developing ways to include them as contributing members.
The project will:
1. support refugees in finding and participating in local faith communities
2. provide pastoral care support to refugees for issues of grief, loneliness, advocacy, transition, loss etc.
3. assist faith communities in providing welcoming, supportive environments for refugees.
The project will work closely with other organizations and projects that support refugees in Canada (for example: Romero House, Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture). In particular, efforts will be made to strengthen existing services where they exist, and to focus on ways of integrating refugees into communities that are prepared to offer hospitality and support.
Who will be involved?
The project will benefit individual refugees, the Bloor Street community and other faith communities and organizations that may be drawn into the activities over the period of the project.
The project will not be able to meet all needs of all refugees. Depending on who gets involved, as the part time outreach staff person, and the offerings of skills and time by Bloor Street members and others, there may be particular focus areas that develop.
Why is this project a good fit with Bloor Street United Church?
The project responds directly to the component of Bloor Street United Church Mission which calls us to “vigorously share God’s love in inclusive partnership with neighbours near and far in pioneering ways.”
As well, the BSUC goals under the heading “Faithful and Courageous Action” call for us to renew our commitment to engage in faithful and courageious action beyond our congregation by:
a) forming partnerships with one or more churches or community agenices in our city to further the congregation’s commitment to faith that issues in action;
b) sponsoring outreach projects and mission;
c) taking a leadership role in advocating social justice issues within and outside Canada.
This project provides an opportunity to form partnerships among United Church congregations, other Christian churches as well as with other faith traditions.
The project also builds on a variety of actions and initiatives BSUC has undertaken in the past. For example: sponsorship of refugee families; relief of need and personal support for people in crisis; the “pilot project” with Emmanuel Tehindrazinarivelo and Adam Dudu which worked for a short period to outreach to newcomer communities. The project provides a pratical way of working with other faith communities, and building on the awareness of the mulitfaith nature of Toronto that Warren has introduced to us as a result of his sabbatical.
The project can also be seen as a way of taking the BSUC model of pastoral care and the parish nurse model, and applying these to the particular circumstances of refugees in Toronto.
Project Plan
This 2-year project will address the needs of refugees once they arrive in Toronto, with an emphasis on building community and providing personal support and links to local faith communities. The emphasis would be on recognizing the strengths and capacities that refugees bring with them, acknowledging that many have exercised courageous leadership in their home countries.
The project will be administered through the existing structures of BSUC. The project will hire a part time person (14 hours week) for a period of 2 years. Activities will include: outreach links to organizations serving refugees, developing a model of pastoral care support to refugees, and working with BSUC and other faith communities to create participation options for refugees.
A model of pastoral care for refugees might include developing options for peer support, group support, mentoring, events that link people to their home country, invitations for celebrations, etc.
A small steering committee and a larger advisory committee will be developed to guide the work, and support the staff person. The steering committee will focus on the work of the project, and the advisory committee will support links with BSUC and other community activities. The committees will include participation from BSUC and other congregations, faith communities or organizations that may be interested. Daily supervision and support of the person would be provided through the existing staff team structures of BSUC.
The budget of about $18,000.00 per year includes 14 hours of staff time per week plus a small amount for project costs (transportation, program activities, meetings, office supplies).
For more information
Contact Sue Kaiser via church office or at kaisersue@hotmail.com. Check the bulletin or church office for information about committee meeting dates. Everyone is welcome.

Some of you have asked how to support the work of the project. Here are a few current suggestions:
Rewards: We have signed up with the Hbc Rewards Community Program. If you shop at the Bay or Zellers and collect HBC Rewards Points, you can share some of those points with the Refugee Outreach Project. Donated Points will get turned into gift certificates to support our program activities, especially the parenting group and Christmas support for families. To donate points, go to www.hbc.com/hbcrewards/program. Select “community program” from the menu. You will find Bloor Street United Church on the list: our community ID number is 6910726.
Volunteers: Over the last several years of the project, we have grown in the number of activities and areas of work. Volunteers are needed to help in the following areas: children’s activities during parents program, planning for special events like the Christmas party, visiting families, taking charge of donated goods, like baby and household items and fundraising.
Budget: We are continuing to search for financial support from other sources, including congregations, foundations or funding programs. If you know of opportunities for funding that might work for us, let us know.
For more information, talk to anyone on the Steering Committee: Sue Kaiser, Francisco Venegas.