Context

There are over 20 million refugees world-wide. Most refugees want to return home as soon as it is safe to do so. Many can, within a reasonable period of time. Of those for whom it does not become safe to return home, most refugees integrate into the neighbouring country to which they fled–a country where the climate, culture and language are usually familiar. Refugees, who cannot return home and who cannot settle in a nearby area, need a place, like Manitoba, where they can rebuild their lives.

Goal

Enable as many refugees as possible to be sponsored, by Manitoba groups, and facilitate as many local family linked refugee sponsorships, as community capacity will allow.

Services:

• Promote and facilitate the sponsorship of refugees in urgent and special need of protection
• Encourage, subsidize and support Manitoba groups sponsoring refugees
• Build capacity with community groups to sponsor family linked refugees
• Assist rural and northern communities develop refugee sponsorship initiatives
• Advocate and assist to reunite families
• Raise awareness about cultural diversity and racism
• Serve as secretariat and resource to Manitoba Refugee Sponsors
• Assist with extending visitor and student visas

Perspectives:

• Refugees have lost so much, but Manitoba groups can help save them and give them the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
• Sponsoring groups can rescue refugee families from harm, uncertainty and despair.
• The governments of Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg all support refugee sponsorship.
• More and more refugees are choosing Manitoba as the place where they want to settle.
• Many recent refugee newcomers have relatives they would dearly love to bring to Manitoba.
• Refugee newcomers, with relatives in Manitoba, invariably work and stay here.
• Refugee newcomers help supply Manitoba’s growing workforce needs.
• Refugee newcomers broaden the base of population to support Manitoba’s aging demographic.
• Refugees sponsored by Manitoba groups are bound to become loyal citizens of our Province.
• Sponsoring refugees does all of us a world of good.