IOM #Ecuador Newsletter (February 2015)

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IOM GIVES RESETTLEMENT SUPPORT TO A MINOR GOING TO CANADA Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Refugee Resettlement Programme Coordinator in Ecuador, Gabriela Cisneros, travelled to Canada as an escort of refugee minor being resettled to Montreal at the end of January.

The 8 year-old Colombian girl, orphaned by violence related to the conflict in her country of origin, was reunited with her grandmother, a previously resettled refugee During the escort trip, the official had the opportunity to experience first-hand the transit airport in San Salvador for refugees heading to Canada from Ecuador.

At Toronto Pearson Airport, she went through the same customs and immigration procedures refugees go through at their Canadian port-of-entry. She also met with Milton Neighbourhood Services (MNS), which is the organization responsible for arrival and transit assistance provided to refugees landing in Toronto These experiences will further improve the smooth movement of refugees from Ecuador to Canada.

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In January 2015, IOM signed an agreement with AIESEC Ecuador, the International Association of Students of Economic and Commercial Sciences. It is aimed at promoting international exchanges and internships among its members, which will allow them to learn about global subjects, interculturalism, leadership and entrepreneurship, thus contributing to the development of human talent AIESEC is a global, apolitical, non-profit organization of young professionals, students and recently graduated college students. Its network currently comprises more than 100.000 members in 124 countries and 2,400 universities, making it the biggest student organization worldwide and recognized by the UN. AIESEC in Ecuador is located in 5 cities and has 300 members in 12 universities around the country, with the Pontifical Catholic University of Quito as the head office On Friday February 6, AIESEC organized an annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;National Legislative Congress" in Guayaquil, at the Catholic University of Guayaquil In the context of the agreement signed, IOM was invited to attend this National Congress in Guayaquil, where the activities undertaken by IOM in Ecuador and the world, and especially the benefits of the programmes to facilitate human development were explained

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COA OFFICIAL VISITS IOM CANADA IOM Ottawa organized meetings with local Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) who directly assist newcomers in Canada for Ecuadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Canadian Orientation Abroad Coordinator and Facilitator, Matthew Cecchetto, who also took this opportunity to meet with staff members involved in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Refugee Resettlement and COA programmes to discuss successes and challenges that COA Ecuador has experienced since beginning in April 2014.

During the visits to reception centre for recently arrived refugees Maison Sophia House (run by the Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa) and YMCA-YWCA, the Quito COA Coordinator heard from the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff about the challenges faced by refugees immediately after their arrival.

The feedback obtained from these meetings will help improve and adjust the content of the COA sessions in Quito

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FEBRUARY CANADA CULTURAL ORIENTATION

COA attendants with Ms. Brankica Brusin, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Canada in Bogotá

IOM DONATES ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN SAN LORENZO IOM Ecuador, through its Head of Mission, Rogelio Bernal, donated five computers and a printer to the Municipality of San Lorenzo del Pailón, in the province of Esmeraldas (This electronic equipment will be used by the Genre Equiality and Peace Culture Unit of the Municipality to create a pilot Data Centre allowing to train limited-resource mothers, both migrants and as well as the host population, in order to broaden their knowledge and improve their quality of life, as well as to prevent violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups At first, and depending on the availability of the target users, who during the day are shellfish collectors, the Municipality expects to use the computers by turns so as to teach computer science. In the future, the Data Centre will be expanded in size and number of PCs so more people can benefit from it

In February, Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) Ecuador held a pre-departure orientation session for a small group of Colombian refugees. In the session spread over 3 days, topics of concern for the refugees including how to learn one of Canada’s official languages (English and French), their legal status in Canada , and options for continuing their education in Canada were explored in detail using a variety of activities. The February session was also the first to incorporate a youthfocused hour at the end of each day with relevant information for participants between the ages of 10 and 18 Also noteworthy of the February session was the attendance of a representative from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), COA’s donor. Ms. Brankica Brusin, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Canada in Bogotá (Colombia) was in Quito conducting resettlement eligibility interviews with refugees and made it a priority to attend part of the COA session. Ms. Brusin enthusiastically opened the session, offering participants words of encouragement and requested that they pay close attention to the information provided over the course of the session.

While handing out completion certificates to participants on the final day, Ms. Brusin remarked that participants seemed visibly happier and more at ease than at the beginning of the session. Participants agreed, explaining that they now feel less insecure and more excited about the new experiences that await them in Canada.

They thanked Ms. Brusin and the Canadian government for the opportunity to go to the country they had spent over 18 hours discovering and for the COA session, a forum where they felt their concerns were heard and responded to In conversations with COA Ecuador staff, Ms. Brusin said that in her experience as an immigration officer, refugees tend to ask a lot of questions about Canada and the resettlement process during the interviews she conducts. After observing part of the COA session in Quito, Ms. Brusin said that she began informing applicants that if they are deemed eligible for resettlement to Canada, they will be invited to attend a 3 day COA session where their questions would be answered In addition to Ms. Brusin’s endorsement, the COA Ecuador programme counts itself lucky for the consistent enthusiastic show of support from the Embassy of Canada in Ecuador since sessions began in Quito in April 2014.

LIFE STORY My name is Sirley Sanchez. A few months ago, I was in a place without options; a place with few possibilities to properly care for my daughters. Like every mother, I wanted what was best for my children I have now been in Canada for nearly four months. So many changes have taken place in our lives since we landed here. Thinking back of my situation in Colombia and Ecuador, it is like I am being asked to leave what I know behind and to walk across this very long bridge. Basically, I have no other options, but to go forward and cross this bridge. Having attended a three-day COA session in IOM Quito, I had a good idea of what was awaiting us on the other side of this bridge.

PERSONNEL IOM Ecuador is pleased to welcome Stanislav Shelukhin to the team. Stanislav, who arrived in February, will be the New Case Processing Supervisor for the Resettlement Support Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean. Welcome!

Having attended a three-day COA session in IOM Quito, I had a good idea of what was awaiting us on the other side of this bridge. Despite all of the reassurances I had been given, I did feel some anguish, uncertainty, anxiety and even fear, but I also had faith that once at the end of this bridge, we would be met and everything would be alright Now in Biggar, Saskatchewan, we are all feeling happy. Any tears we may have are tears of joy. I am overwhelmed by the kindness of the people around me and my family. The language has so far not been a problem and I am proud to say that we are all learning English I will be honest and say that there have been days when the culture shock I had heard about, while still in Ecuador, has tried to knock me down. This is when I look around and see everything around me: the smiling faces of my daughters, all healthy and full of life and I know that these feelings will pass The orientation that Matteo, the COA Quito facilitator, gave us before the trip was the best information that one could receive. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put into practice everything that we discussed in that session and, as a result, every aspect of this resettlement has been simple; starting with the departure formalities at the Quito airport. When we finally landed in Canada, I put into practice everything that we had been told, including how to use winter clothing, how to interact with people and how to be open to new cultural situations. I have since tasted the delicious maple syrup and made many new friends We will forever be grateful to the people who made this dream a reality and to the country that welcomed us as their residents and future citizens one day. We have been given opportunities to study, live, eat, work, and moreover save money.

Having a tranquil place to call home is priceless Education for all children is free and that is the most precious thing for me. This will be my greatest legacy to my three daughters.

I feel like a superwoman as I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the fear of going to such a big country, alone with my daughters, stop me.

The only thing I have left to say to all the families who will begin this process is that they should fill themselves with endless humility, love, perseverance, and patience. Everything will happen when and where it is supposed to happen for each of you.

Cross the bridge without fear