Rebuilding the Lives of Refugees, One Family at a Time

Amina’s Story

I came to Canada as a refugee in 2018, ill and traumatized, with no family close by and two young children to take care of. I was fortunate to be accepted into the Sojourn House transitional housing program, where my children and I received immeasurable support. And I feel lucky to have benefitted from such benevolence.

Before coming to Sojourn House, I had never experienced such a degree of kindness; Sojourn House is family, with friendly and humane staff who are always willing to assist and never too busy to lend a listening ear or a helping hand. Sojourn House gave me support and encouragement when I had very little hope. With their help, I was able to access laudable medical attention and care at no cost. After regaining my health, they encouraged and effectively supported me through the IRB process. They facilitated my children’s admission into an excellent school where they were able to participate in community programs, such as the Regent Park School of Music. They ensured that we never felt alone or left out by making our Christmas, birthdays, and other festive days beautiful and memorable—even making Mother’s Day that much more special. No matter what, they always ensured that the kids had fun.

My children have immensely benefited from their various resources and programs for kids, such as their musical lessons and arts and crafts, as well as yoga and homework clubs. Through their mentoring and encouragement, I was able to set goals for myself and achieve milestones. I successfully pursued and completed the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario Certification program at George Brown College. I was also able to successfully complete my assessment as an internationally trained lawyer by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) and secure admission to pursue the law licensing program, which will enable me to be called to the Canadian Bar and be eligible to practice law in Canada. Words cannot express my gratitude to the management and staff of Sojourn House, and from the bottom of my heart, I say THANK YOU for your kindness and support. My children and I can look at the future with a smile again.

About Sojourn House

Sojourn House provides Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing services to refugees coming from all parts of the world. Newcomer refugees who have undergone difficult and traumatic premigratory experiences, including exposure to war, torture, violence, targeted persecution, forced migration, and family separation, need access to a safe environment. For over 30 years, Sojourn House has served thousands of refugees from all around the world, providing the best possible care, services, and programs tailored to effectively address their particular needs. With decades of experience, Sojourn House takes pride in being one of the first and largest refugee housing agencies in Toronto, and a leading organization in refugee care. By offering shelter, safety, and other essential services, Sojourn House is the helping hand and the umbrella of hope for refugees while they begin to rebuild a life in Toronto.

Your Guide to Feel-Good Holiday Shopping

Cuddle+Kind Hand-Knit Dolls —Starting at $75 Cuddle+Kind was started by a family of five on a mission to help feed children in need. With every doll sold, they give 10 meals to children around the world. Every doll is lovingly handcrafted in Peru and helps empower 1000 talented artisans with sustainable, fair trade employment, positively impacting their families and communities. The dolls are knit with premium cotton yarn that’s certified non-toxic and safe for even the littlest of littles.

Toques From The Heart Classic Toques—$29.99 Founded by three students at McMaster University, Casey, Matt, and Matthew, Toques From The Heart donates a toque to a Canadian experiencing homelessness for every toque purchased through their website. The organization began in 2019 and donated more than 2,000 toques in the 2020/2021 winter season. This winter, they’ve partnered with 25 giving partners across Canada to expand their reach, with a goal of giving 35,000 toques this year, which is the number of Canadians that experience homelessness on any given night.

Aille Design Braille T-Shirt—$60 Diversity includes disability. Aille Design (pronounced: eye) is an emerging designer brand that is changing the way people think about inclusive design through intricately beaded clothing with fully legible braille. Their “Fashion is for Everyone” braille t-shirt is Swarovski -encrusted and designed in collaboration with people from the blind and visually impaired community, with five percent of the profits being donated to the American Foundation for the Blind. Their “Chin up, Mask on” braille mask (starting at $30) is on display at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Province of Canada Buy One, Give One Socks —Starting at $18 From starting online with a humble t-shirt collection, Province of Canada has expanded over the last seven years to include well-made sweatsuits, everyday basics, and home accessories. Did you know that socks are the least donated but most needed clothing item among Canada’s homeless population? This is what led to the launch of Province of Canada’s One-For-One Sock Program. For every pair of Province of Canada socks purchased, they donate a pair to a Canadian homeless shelter.

Canadian Courage Project Change line— Starting at $30 100 percent of proceeds from the Canadian Courage Project’s (CCP) new clothing line will go towards supporting winter mental health programming for youth and their pets transitioning out of shelters into independent housing. The CCP team offers workshops and wellness care kits to youth in shelters across Canada and you can be a part of the change! Purchase one of their Toronto -designed crew necks or tees for your favourite person.

Peek-a-Boo! I See You!

“Now she plays with other children and walks by herself!” says Lilia’s father. When Lilia was six months old, her parents knew something was very wrong with her vision. She couldn’t follow her parents’ movements with her eyes, cried constantly, and didn’t want to eat. Lilia’s parents were devastated. Living in a poor, rural area of Mwaro Province in central Burundi, they couldn’t afford to travel to Bujumbura, the capital, for treatment, nor could they afford the cost of Lilia’s eye care.

The family was relieved to learn about a nearby Community Eye Centre (CEC) that could treat Lilia for free and provide transportation to and from their home. At the CEC, Lilia was diagnosed with congenital cataracts in both eyes. At just eight months old, Lilia underwent sight-restoring surgery and was given a pair of glasses, funded by Seva Canada donors. The doctor advised the family that Lilia would need to come back for regular follow-up visits and new glasses as she continues to grow. For nearly 40 years, Seva Canada has made it their mission to restore sight and prevent blindness in low- and middle-income countries. With decades of experience and with the help of unique partnerships, Seva works to establish locally managed eye care programs that will continue to serve people and communities long after Seva’s involvement is complete.

“For many children in low-income countries, blindness and visual impairment means poverty and loss of opportunity. Millions of children could see tomorrow if only they had access to care. This is especially true for girls who make up two-thirds of children living with vision impairment. When you give a child the power of sight, you are also giving them access to education, employment, and the foundation for a better life, full of potential,” said Penny Lyons, Seva Canada’s Executive Director. Today, Lilia is a happy 18-month-old toddler who keeps her parents busy chasing her around as she explores her surroundings. “She has gained weight and no longer cries like she used to. I hope she will be able to go to school like other children!” says her mother, with a beaming, hopeful smile.

Give a child in a low-income country the gift of sight from $25 seva.ca