B.C. non-profit marks World Refugee Day highlighting newcomer success

The Immigrant Services Society of B. C. (ISS of B.

C.) Welcome Centre marked World Refugee Day on June 21, highlighting the impact of its decade-long work supporting refugees settling in Vancouver. One success story is Ebrahim Al-Yousefi, who escaped violence in Yemen and has since won scholarships worth $300,000.

"I was so fortunate, so fortunate. To be honoured with such a privilege means a lot," he said. "The acknowledgement, the first time in my life, I felt like everything that I went through actually meant something."

Al-Yousefi has joined the ISS of B. C. team as part of his effort to give back.

"For me, it's an opportunity to pay off the massive and payable debt that I feel I owe to this country, to the system, and to the people that help make us drive." Another refugee, Dacious Richardson, came to Canada from Liberia's civil war. He founded Rise Above Reality Expectation Community Services Society, a non-profit bringing soccer to underprivileged youth.

"With the war that comes with trauma and anxiety and a lot of things. So, I don't want any young person to go through a similar thing," Richardson said. "I want to be that peer mentor who can be there, you can reach out to whenever, just to guide you and keep you on the right track."

Richardson emphasized the human dimension of refugee experiences. "Refugees are people who are also human, who also want to see the best for everyone." The Welcome Centre offers transitional housing, health-care clinics, trauma treatment, English language classes, and employment support.

Vancity helps facilitate bank account openings. Chris Friesen, chief operating officer of ISS of B. C.

, noted the breadth of services: "On site, we have a health-care clinic, we have a trauma treatment centre. Vancity helps facilitate opening bank accounts. English language classes, first language supports, employment supports."

Recent changes to federal immigration policy and budget directives have forced the non-profit to curtail some programs. Friesen pointed to contributions refugees make across Canadian society. "That translates to our health-care system, construction, all aspects of Canadian society, even here as we celebrate as a host city for the FIFA World Cup," he said.

"Look at the Canadian team, who's the captain? A former refugee from Liberia."