2.A Refugees: From Eligibility to Arrival
A.3 What information and resources are provided to refugees prior to their arrival in their resettlement country?
(v) How do refugees learn about the role of their sponsors in their resettlement?
How Canada Does It
Sponsoring groups are strongly encouraged to explain their role and responsibilities towards the refugees. Refugees may learn more about sponsors’ role in their resettlement from the sponsors themselves prior to landing in Canada, through, the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) cultural orientation workshops, and through the Government of Canada’s website. After arrival, sponsoring groups may wish to provide sponsored refugees with more details about individual sponsors’ roles for the coming year, and maintain regular communications with refugees regarding successes and challenges associated with their resettlement.
Sponsoring groups are strongly encouraged to explain their role and responsibilities towards the refugees. Pre-arrival contact is a beneficial opportunity for sponsoring groups to do this and learn more about the refugees’ settlement needs. Refugees may also obtain information about the sponsoring group’s role and responsibilities from the International Organization for Migration’s pre-arrival cultural workshops and the Government of Canada’s website.
After arrival, sponsoring groups may wish to provide the refugees with a list of their names, background information, individual roles in the refugees’ resettlement, and contact information. Importantly, sponsors should highlight that their goal is to assist the refugees in becoming self-sufficient and integrate into Canadian society while respecting the refugees’ right to respect and autonomy. For example, sponsoring groups should explain the refugees’ budget for twelve months and living costs in their community of resettlement, but allow the refugees to ultimately decide how to use the financial assistance provided.
Sponsoring groups and refugees should also communicate regularly to ensure the sponsoring group is meeting its obligations. If the refugees feel their sponsoring group is not complying with its obligations, they may approach a settlement agency, the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, Sponsorship Agreement Holders (where applicable), or their local migration office for assistance and possibly mediation (see 2.D.2).