In 2023, the Comox Valley Afghan Sponsorship Team (CVAST) successfully brought four members of a family to the community.
One year later, the group is back at work, endeavouring to reunite the other four family members with those who now call the Comox Valley home.
B次元官网网址淥ur team raised money to bring four members of a family of Afghan refugees to the Comox Valley: a young child whose parents are trained physicians and whose aunt worked at a law firm,B次元官网网址� said Sherry MacLeod. B次元官网网址淭hey arrived last July and are settling into their new lives. We are now raising the funding necessary to bring their parents and two younger brothers here to join them so that the family can be reunited and live in peace and security as they rebuild their lives following a harrowing escape from Taliban persecution.B次元官网网址�
CVAST was incorporated as a non-profit society early in 2024 and changed its name to the Comox Valley Refugee Sponsorship Society, CVRSS. Macleod is currently serving as the CVRSS president.
The CVRSS is working in conjunction with the Mennonite Central Committee of BC (MCCBC) to facilitate this latest sponsorship.
Under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, Canada's government is allowing the MCCBC to provide sponsorship for 85 refugees this year. The CVRSS submitted an expression of interest the CVRSS in January, for the sponsorship of these four Afghan refugees.
B次元官网网址淚n March, the MCCBC approved our application and has allotted us four of the 85 seats to bring the family over to the Comox Valley for resettlement,B次元官网网址� explained Macleod. B次元官网网址淲e have submitted the sponsorship documents to the MCCBC and are awaiting onward referral to the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is our sincere hope that the family will arrive before the end of the year, although it is more likely that they will arrive early next year.B次元官网网址�
Based on the Resettlement Assistance Program, the CVRSS is required to pay all the costs involved, as a contingency amount of more than $10,000, and $2,100 in application fees.
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program stipulates that the sponsorship organization (in this case, CVRSS) is responsible for all of the costs of food, shelter, clothing, utilities, health, education etc. for each refugee during their first year of resettlement in Canada. They are also responsible for helping the newcomers learn about Canadian society so that they can successfully integrate and settle into their new lives and work towards citizenship.
B次元官网网址淪o we are working hard to raise as much money as we can as quickly as possible to meet these requirements,B次元官网网址� said Macleod.
One challenge for the CVRSS is it has not yet been approved as a registered charity, meaning it cannot offer tax receipts for donations at this time.
B次元官网网址淭herefore we must raise our funds by holding a series of events where the proceeds go toward the sponsorship,B次元官网网址� said Macleod. B次元官网网址淲e have several events planned over the next few weeks.B次元官网网址�
On June 15 the CVRSS is hosting a "huge" garage sale at 1741 Linden Ave. in Comox.
B次元官网网址淲e have had so many generous donations that there will certainly be something for everyone,B次元官网网址� said Macleod. B次元官网网址淐ome and have a cup of Afghan tea as you browse and chat with our Afghan family.B次元官网网址�
On June 23 there will be an Afghan cooking class, where two Afghan women will show participants how to make two dishes; an Afghan vegetarian dish (fragrant and delicious) and a wonderful dessert.
June 29 will be Art in the Park at the Marina Park in Comox from 10 a.m.B次元官网网址� 6 p.m. where there will be art for sale, as well as an art auction. There will be a childrenB次元官网网址檚 art-making tent, as well as cookie sales and Afghan lemonade. Live music will be provided by local musicians, and temporary henna hand tattoos will also be available.
For more information about CVRSS and its fundraising events, email CVASTZarak@gmail.com. or call Macleod at 204 641 8293.
