I have been
waiting for my travel to Canada for quite a while. Planning diaries, organising
meetings, researching where to stay whilst in Canada, how to travel around in
this big country, planning fall-back positions in case things go as not
planned. Sometimes an email or emails were not enough. Needed to pick up that
phone to firm meetings and get better deals. Yes, it was all to travel and meet
folks of different experiences, expertise and stories about the Refugee
Sponsorship in Canada. What made the scheme a success? Why are those ranging
from a small group to big law firms, schools, universities, faith institutions
and companies get involved in this? What keeps some of those involved in this
for decades motivated? Why them? From Toronto to Guelph, Windsor to Ottawa,
Winnipeg to Calgary and Vancouver there are lots of stories to hear and share
in the long run.
5th June 2018
It all
started on June 5. Finally, the long-awaited day arrived and I was at Gatwick
Airport early in the morning. To make things even more exciting, I was joined
by my colleague Jonathan Cox, Deputy Director of Citizens UK, who was
travelling to Canada as a speaker at the International Refugee Rights
Conference, where I would take part as a Churchill Fellow. Great coincidence!
The journey
to Toronto was long, but I had lots of energy to cope with as I was excited and
have been waiting for this day for months.
Once I arrived there, it didn’t take me long to find my ways and adjust
to situations in Toronto, which undoubtedly is an international city.
June 6
Meeting with
Deborah Littman, a veteran community organiser was in the agenda. Stories of
organising from London to Vancouver and Toronto - ordinary citizens doing
extraordinary things. The stories were simply fascinating. In organising, there
is nothing called small win. A win is a win. A win can happen only when we sit
around the table for negotiations with those who have power. That is what
Deborah and her fellow colleagues do. Organise to build power and negotiate to
win.
The second on
the agenda was meeting with Louis Century of Goldblatt Partners LLP based in
Downtown Toronto. This is one of the most inspirational meetings I have had so
far. The law firm was able to sponsor a Syrian family and resettle them in
Toronto. One of the questions I raise to Louis was, ‘why should businesses
engage in refugee sponsorship?’. The answer was:- “Refugee Sponsorship gives
businesses opportunity to show leadership and can bring sense of pride within
the organisation”. Very powerful message.
The Churchill
Fellowship travel continues across Canada. Lots of heart moving stories to
share in the coming days and weeks. Once thing for sure, Canada is a truly
welcoming country. That is what I have seen be in a big city like Toronto or
small town like Arborg in Manitoba.
Even more
inspired. All happens because of the Churchill Fellowship. Kudos to all!
