Lots to learn in helping victims of refugee crisis

The refugee crisis occasionally manages to grab our attention, not quite keeping pace with breaking news, although the world’s refugees are now an estimated 22.5 million. “The cameras have gone, but the suffering endures,” to quote a Guardian article, which grieves the world’s lack of welcome for these newcomers.

Canada has thankfully adopted an attitude of inclusion, appreciation of diversity and openness to refugees. Private citizens have spontaneously stepped up to the plate, forming sponsorship groups. An enormous amount of work is being done here on Vancouver Island and across the country, invisible to most of us.

Over the past few weeks, as I’ve found out more about this crisis, I’ve been constantly surprised by the magnitude of the effort and the worrying amount of work that still has to be done.

A little while ago, our Bahá’í neighbourhood group decided to ask what we could do to help. I had no idea how much there was to learn. The teaching I’d heard a million times, “Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” has been given a whole new meaning.

I first spoke with someone from the Anglican diocese and was totally enthralled by the drama and humanity of the stories of local refugees and sponsorship groups. It was obvious there was enormous amount of caring and co-ordination involved. The diocese is one of two umbrella organizations for sponsors coming from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs. The other is the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA).

By the following week, when I met Sabine Lehr of the ICA, I knew enough to know I didn’t know much.

I decided to ask what she needed and see where the conversation went. There was not one second of hesitation in her response: “Right now, I need sponsors for the most vulnerable refugees — the BVOR group.”

“OK,” I said. “B... what?” My learning curve was about to look like a hockey stick.

The facts are a little mindblowing. There are many different types of programs, BVOR being one for refugees who are among those most in need of resettlement. Don’t bother asking what it stands for — it stands for a brilliant way to help. And help is most definitely needed.

I was already aware of the incredible work done by the ICA, but the enormity of the tasks shouldered by those working with refugees and sponsorship groups is truly impressive.

I learned a little about the BVOR program, under which the UN Refugee Agency refers refugees to the Canadian government to be jointly sponsored with private citizens.

For this program to work, awareness and volunteerism on the part of Canadian citizens is needed. Otherwise, assistance can’t be offered, even though the refugees are cleared for travel and have at least partial funding. Unfortunately, far too few people know of this program.

The good news, if you’d like to know more and perhaps assist, is that there’s an upcoming event that’s designed exactly for that. The ICA will be hosting Responding to the Refugee Crisis, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, on July 21 at 2625 Arbutus Rd.

There will be an informative program designed to move and inspire, including UN Refugee Agency spokeswoman Aviva Basman, as well as Mohammed Alsaleh, a sponsorship trainer and former refugee who gave a TEDx Talk on the refugee crisis.

Following refreshments, a panel will be chosen for its local expertise and there will be discussions during which a multitude of questions can be answered. Registration is free at Eventbrite: Responding to the Refugee Crisis. Come and bring a friend.