What’s happening around the country?

One of the most difficult tasks facing a newcomer is adapting to the way of life in your new home.  JIAS Service Provider Partners across the country are doing what they can on limited budgets to create programming that helps newcomers integrate, become part of their community and feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

We would like to share with you some of their innovative ideas:

Ø      Ottawa’s WARM HOME PROGRAM 

The Warm Home Program provides a volunteer-driven luncheon for elderly Russian speaking newcomers to Canada once a month.  The program reaches out by offering a familiar taste of home hospitality and home cooked meals.  The goals and objectives of the Warm home program are to promote integration, connection to community and well being among the senior Russian speaking newcomer population by offering a culturally sensitive socialization and nutritional congregate dining experience.  The Russian-speaking seniors who are invited are chosen on a rotational basis (12-15 people).  120 – 15- people participate in the Warm Home Program each year. 

The isolation of those who have attended the Warm Home program has decreased.  In addition to attending the program itself, many seniors have created linkages at the programs with other Russian speaking seniors, resulting in friendships and networking, both in persona an on the telephone.  These outings and the resulting social contacts have improved the quality of life of the participants.

Ø      JIAS Montreal’s WORKSHOPS FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS 

JIAS Montreal Outing to Upper Canada Village

In the last few months JIAS Montreal has carried out various successful and innovative programs for newcomers including:  language tutoring for children; a Women’s Club; a new mothers’ networking group; information sessions on Tenants’ Rights, How to Open your Own Business, Rights of Immigrant Workers, How to Navigate Quebec’s Medical System, understanding Quebec’s Tax System; Outings to Ottawa, Quebec City and upper Canada Village.  A summer picnic was also arranging integrating local members of the Montreal Jewish community with newcomers.  Close to 100 attended.

Ø      Calgary’s JOB SEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM 

An interesting program that has been developed for new immigrant clients using vocational services in Calgary, is an intensive one-on-one role-playing session on the interview and network process.  This provides clients with specific skills and more comfort when they start their job searches.

Ø      Vancouver’s WELCOME BASKETS and TELEPHONE RESOURCE NETWORK 

The Jewish Integration Council of Greater Vancouver, launched in March 2003, is a collaborative partnership between JFSA and Shalom BC designed to initiate and strengthen the connection between the newcomer and the Jewish community.  Under the umbrella of the council old timers representing various countries and staff members) 20 volunteers are active in two programs.  The WELCOME BASKETS are gift “basket” delivered personally by a volunteer speaking the same language as the newcomer.  The basket includes a Kiddush cup, a Jewish cookbook, a mezuzah voucher and a challah voucher.  The TELEPHONE RESOURCE NETWORK is a telephone resource for newcomers that provides accessible contact in the newcomer language. 

Ø      Winnipeg’s EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS and more 

Four afternoon employment workshops were held in June on the following subjects:  Market Yourself; The Interview; Employment Expectations and job Finding Club. 

On August 21^st a newcomer get-together was held at the Asper Campus.  Over 60 newcomers and local families joined together for an afternoon of sports, get to know you games, and square dancing.  An educator from Kindermusic, involved the children and parents in music and movement.  A clown entertained.  This program was a joint initiative with Jewish Child and Family Services and Jewish Federation’s young Adult Division.

A Workshop was held in July in the Russian language for newcomer women to learn about the Canadian culture and share stories about their immigration experience.  The feedback was very positive and the women are interested in meeting again in the near future.