August was a busy month. We completed the second cohort of Dil Bal Dil, collaborated with Muslim Children’s Aid and Support Services MCASS on the Beyond Backpacks drive, and continued to support refugee families with Grocery gift cards and delivered Chromebook laptops to help with school, job searches, and applying for benefits.
The month also marked the 4th anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan and the crisis response that evolved into the Canadian Connections we know today. Our story, along with other perspectives on the ongoing challenges Afghans have in settling in Canada, was featured on CBC News.
This is always a bittersweet time when ‘celebrating’ never seems the right word. Nevertheless, it felt the right time for our team to come together and recognize how much Canadian Connections has evolved and overcome challenges.
In a picnic style, kindly hosted by our team of amazing Afghan women, we visited Coronation Park in Oakville. The summer and warmth were a welcoming plus!
We looked back and reflected on how we got here. We also talked about how much still needs to be done for refugees to be truly welcomed and thrive in their new lives here. That is what is guiding our next chapters.
Watch this space or collaborate with us in building Canadian Connections’ future!