Category: Content

Ideas can be very powerful. A simple idea from a colleague or a loved one can inspire change and impact those around the world. Likewise, Tim Taylor, an Anglican Priest at St. Johns York Mills Church found himself becoming a refugee sponsor and now a board member at AURA simply because a parishioner at his church came to him with an idea. He stated that “the advocation for refugees really became real when a friend of mine reached out. It became very tangible and real.” This idea led to the resettlement and unification of a Syrian refugee family, and soon a Ugandan family as well. Although the refugee sponsorship process has been slowed due to the pandemic, Tim’s advocacy work hasn’t stopped. He recently participated in the Ride for Refuge Fundraiser which took place on October 3rd along with his friends and family to raise money for AURA. The Ride for Refuge is an annual fundraiser that takes place all across Canada to raise money for organizations that advocate for vulnerable populations such as refugees.

This year, Tim’s team “Riders 4 Refugees” consisted of 6 people who all partook in the 10km bike ride and were able to raise over $8,000 for AURA. One reason for their success is team member Eric Polo. Eric is a 13-year-old who has Diamond-Blackfan anemia. This condition makes it difficult for his body to produce red blood cells posing a challenge when performing strenuous physical activity. However, when Tim shared the idea of raising money for AURA with Eric and his family, he didn’t hesitate to get involved: “When [Eric] heard that we were doing this fundraising, he said he wanted to do it too. He trained all summer and learned how to ride a bicycle at 13.” Eric was not only able to learn how to ride a bicycle and fulfil a personal goal but was also able to move many people and raise money to help refugee families around the world. Tim emphasized Eric’s impact by saying that “[Eric’s] story engaged a lot of people who knew him and the challenges he was facing. A lot of it was because Eric was participating.” Thanks to Eric’s persistence and the participation of many others, AURA was able to collectively raise $30,913 during the Ride for Refuge 2020.

As the new year begins, Tim hopes to share this idea with the youth groups at his church so that everyone can come together at the Ride for Refuge in 2021. When asked about how to get people involved, he said that it was important to make a “direct connection”. He highlighted that “organizations like AURA are responsible for 20% of the worlds resettlement of refugees” and how as Canadians “we should be really proud” because we are model for other countries when it comes to private sponsorship.

Tim continues to champion the cause for refugees as him and his sponsorship group fundraise for a Ugandan refugee family of six who will arrive in Canada by March 2021. His story is a testament to how ideas can translate to powerful movements and inspire change worldwide.

In 2015, the plight of the Syrian community became
known globally when news broadcasts all over the
world informed people about the suffering that
many Syrians endured. Due to the Syrian civil war
crisis, there are nearly 5.6 million refugees and 6.2
million individuals displaced, half of those being
children. The impact of sponsoring a newcomer can
ripple into the community as was the case with Stan
and Ahmed. Stan provided a helping hand by
sponsoring Ahmed’s family residing in Syria, who
now give back to their community in Canada by
helping those seeking refuge.

After a flourishing sponsorship with Ahmed’s
family, Stan decided to join the Board of Directors
with AURA in 2017 where he learned about Ride
for Refuge. Ride for Refuge is a charity event where Canadians nationally unite to create
awareness and raise funds for individuals that are in jeopardy of being persecuted, displaced,
exploited, or abused. Stan took this event as an opportunity to continue his efforts. In 2017, he
decided to start a couple of teams and has been participating for 4 years since. Moreover, Stan
explained that the Ride for Refuge “was an opportunity to raise money for refugees but also
several charities that assist with refuge including, women and first nations”. He further stated, “it
broadened mine and AURA’s horizons of refuge, as there are many Canadians seeking refuge as
well.”

Over the course of 4 years, Stan participated in Ride for Refuge in several cities, and in 2019, he
had the honor to be accompanied by Ahmed. Ahmed wanted to help others overcome barriers
similar to the experiences that transpired during his journey. This was a great chance for Ahmed
and his team to advocate for the suffering that often goes overlooked. The team consisted of
Ahmed’s family and his sponsorship group where he has proudly participated for 2 years and
hopes to continue for many more. Through multiple teams in several cities, they walked and
cycled to reach their goal.

AURA’s initial goal was to raise $15,000, they were able to
double this amount at $30,913 due to the assistance of Ahmed and Stan’s teams. Ahmed rode 10
km raising nearly $3,060, ranking his team among the top 3 fundraisers from AURA. This was
an incredible achievement considering our current circumstances with the pandemic.
Stan explained that his most memorable experience was seeing Ahmed smile during the Ride for
Refuge cycling. “He had a terrible situation to escape from the crisis in Syria, he was bombed out
of his home in Aleppo and now he’s making a great life in Canada with great support. Seeing him
happy and build these relationships, is very heartwarming”. Ahmed’s growth from overcoming
these adversities to becoming a team leader substantiates the power that refugee sponsorships
can create.

Although we can’t understand what they’re experiencing, through advocation, Stan was able to
learn how many people wanted to support those seeking refuge. “Each time you participate with
other charities like Ride for Refuge, you realize how big the issue for refugees truly are”,
stressing the importance of getting involved. We need to increase efforts to build awareness and
create different methods for people to get involved, similar to Ride for Refuge. “Differences are
made when it comes from the heart and not just the mind. It isn’t something that you rationalize
rather it’s something you just have to do. It’s truly an unimaginable experience”.

As terrible events around the globe unfold, caring and compassionate Canadians choose to make a difference. Stan Squires is one such person.
Stan was deeply disturbed by the destruction in Syria in early 2016, the terrifying images coming out of cities like Aleppo and the forced mass refugee migrations that followed inspired him to act. After first approaching the Diocese and his own congregation, it was decided that a community based project led by St. Saviours would be the best solution. Stan explains that while they knew people would have the desire to be involved, they had not anticipated the sheer enthusiasm of the community. “We were overwhelmed by the support for the workgroup.”

The entire town was interested in the project; the Mayor, councillors and local media were valuable and active contributors. Stan emphasized the importance of AURA’s role in the sponsorship process, “We would have been completely in the dark trying to muddle through everything without the training by AURA and their invaluable work plan”. All his initial worries quickly faded as the necessary funds were raised and the community was on their way to a sponsorship. The Orono community and St. Saviours welcomed the Mohamad family in June of 2016 and since then the family has grown to 5 members. The family has been so touched by the support they received that Ahmed will be leading an AURA Ride for Refugee team on October 5th as a way to give back to the community.

While at times the sponsorship was challenging, Stan insists that as a whole, the experience was one he was extremely grateful for, one that he would never forget. “The sponsorship has been without a doubt the most valuable experience of my life. I learned a great deal about my own community, the many different ethnic families that had been relatively invisible in my own life to date.” Stan witnessed change; prejudice was challenged, differences were welcomed and community was strengthened. “The sponsor group consisted of 15-20 people of varied backgrounds, many of whom did not know each other prior to the sponsorship. The sponsorship united this group of strangers, giving us a common goal. Local businesses offered support, the local dentist, a child of refugees provided dental supported and rented an affordable apartment for the family where they remain to this day.”

The sponsorship process was enlightening for Stan, who had not known much about the suffering of Syrians, let alone the Kurdish Syrians, prior to 2015. The strength of refugees, people forced from their homes, fleeing for their lives, inspired Stan to find his own strength and recognize his own privileges.

“I have learned that challenging ourselves in the cause of others is the greatest work we can do. We can pray, we can talk, we can think about doing such, but to do it is challenging our own comfort levels and for the good of all. I have learned that humanity is basically good.”

When asked to sum up the sponsorship experience Stan explained, “to help one refugee family escape their unimaginable horrors, is worth every minute of our own discomfort.’

Stan continues his tireless support of refugees now through AURA as a member of our Board of Directors.

Photo courtesy of Katlyn Malo Photography

Before coming to Canada through refugee sponsorship, Paniz and her family knew only a few facts about their soon to be new home: Canada is big and it could get very cold during the winter time. Paniz and her family arrived in Canada two years ago, after fleeing from Iran. Even though they didn’t know much about Canada, they did know it was a democratic country, one where they would be free to be who they wanted to be. Paniz and her family had no real understanding of what the refugee sponsorship process was, and much less – what it entailed. While the family understood they were being sponsored, they had no real idea what to expect once they arrived in Canada. They did expect life in Canada would be difficult; they did not speak the language, they worried about the drastic climate differences, and the fact that they would be starting a new life, in a foreign country, alone.

One of the most difficult aspects of coming to a new country is loneliness, and Paniz remembers how it felt not knowing anyone: “When you are happy, you don’t know who to share it with; when you are sad, you don’t have anyone to lean on.”

But, soon after arriving and meeting their sponsors, Paniz and the entire family were pleasantly surprised at how welcoming everyone was to them. The old feeling of not being wanted in Turkey was gone, and they became members of a larger community supportive in Toronto. THIS was life changing. “Having the sponsor group meant that, as well as help with all the practical things, we felt we had a lot of emotional support” she recalls.

Paniz believes that it is crucial for people coming to Canada to have a sponsor group. Adjusting to a new country is a grueling process, and it is extremely helpful to have people you can lean on and trust in times of stress and worry; “When you have someone to help you go through so many challenges, it encourages all of us to do our very best. We all know that we are no alone in our new country and that there are people ready to support us unconditionally.”

Culture shock is a roadblock that many newcomers encounter. Paniz explains that the sponsor group made certain that her family were well acquainted with Canadian traditions, and ensured that they were given a proper introduction to the city of Toronto. “We were introduced to Halloween, Christmas, Canada Day and St. Patrick’s Day; we were invited to their homes to celebrate these events. They took us to the Zoo, the ROM, the Aquarium and they taught us how to ice skate. We would not have done this without our sponsor group.”

Paniz mentions that she no longer thinks about it as a refugee sponsorship, “We look at our sponsorship group members as if they are our family. The sponsor group was an invaluable part of the family’s introduction to Canada: “When you have someone to help you go through so many challenges, it encourages all of us to do our very best. We all know that we are not alone in our new country and that there are people ready to support us unconditionally.”

Paniz emphasizes her families connection to Canada, “We can hardly wait to become Canadian citizens and are counting the days until August when will have been in Canada for three years and are eligible to apply. We already see ourselves as Canadians and can’t wait for it to become official.”

Forced displacement from one’s country is unimaginably difficult. Leaving behind your home, friends and the life you’ve made is excruciating. Refugee sponsorship makes this transition easier. Because the newcomers is no longer alone in a new country, they have people to depend on, people here to help you. “There is no way we will ever be able to thank our sponsors for what they have done for us, except to try and reach our full potential as Canadian citizens to show them how grateful we are to them,” Paniz says.

Paniz is well on her way to reaching that potential in her new home and is showing what it means to be truly Canadian. She has already spearheaded bringing another Iranian family to Canada through refugee sponsorship and has won the prestigious Loran scholarship. She plans to use the scholarship to attend university in the fall and study in the field of science.

Canada is lucky to have someone like Paniz.