[PSRList] Finding Meaningful Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Privately Sponsored Refugees

Fri Apr 15 00:37:10 UTC 2022

Hi Dawit and RSTP list members,

This is Malaz, Director of Operations at Jumpstart. It was very unfortunate to receive this email from Mr. Abdulla and that his concerns were never shared directly with any members of our team. I have since spoken personally with Mr. Abdulla to correct any misinformation he may have had on our supports and engagement with refugee clients from his community. Jumpstart is Canada’s only national refugee-led nonprofit organization and prides itself on serving refugees of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate based on country of origin, legal and immigration status, socio-economic status or any other intersectional marker. A refugee is a refugee is a refugee. All are equity seeking and all deserve and receive our support.

While Jumpstart does receive money from IRCC, it is not for settlement support. The only funds we receive from IRCC is program funding to deliver mentorship. We have never accepted any funds that compensate us on a client basis. We are a client-centric and outcomes based organization and our approach is to serve as many as we can, as best as we can, all according to their needs and aspirations.

Specifically regarding the recent arrival of Afghan refugees; despite not being a government funded Resettlement Agency and with a small staff of15 people across Canada, we have still been able to meet with over 850 Afghan refugees and begun delivering a range of employment supports. We are publicly sharing data on the economic profile of Aghan refugees, so that all stakeholders can be better informed when delivering economic programming and supports. https://jumpstartrefugee.ca/afghan

In terms of us not responding to client inquires and referrals, this is simply not the case. Clients have 3 ways to engage with us. They can call our 800# number, send us an email, or complete our online intake form. Despite my duties as Operations Director, I personally oversee the 800# and info@ emails to ensure all clients are promptly responded to. In terms of our intake form, any client that completes it automatically receives an email from us and then receives a call from our staff within 1-2 business days. Since March 2022, we have had 12 Afghan clients in Alberta (where Mr. Abdulla is located) who have completed our intake form and every one of those clients has been responded to and is in the process of being supported.

Rest assured Jumpstart supports all refugees and works tirelessly to advance their economic inclusion. I invite you to attend RSTP’s webinar to learn more about Jumpstart, about the economic barriers refugees face and how we can work together to address them. Should anyone have any concerns or would like to learn more about Jumpstart’s work, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thank you all for your continued leadership in our communities.

 Malaz Sebai, MBA (Pronouns: he/him/his)
Director, Operations
Jumpstart Refugee Talent
P: (888) 997-3384 x 701
malaz.sebai at jumpstartrefugee.ca<mailto:malaz.sebai at jumpstartrefugee.ca>
www.jumpstartrefugee.ca<http://www.jumpstartrefugee.ca/>

Jumpstart Refugee Talent Calgary Office respectfully acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional and unceded land of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), Tsuut’ina, Îyâxe Nakoda, Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. We further recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples.

From: PSR <psr-bounces at list.rstp.ca<mailto:psr-bounces at list.rstp.ca>> on behalf of "mmaconsulting at shaw.ca<mailto:mmaconsulting at shaw.ca>" <mmaconsulting at shaw.ca<mailto:mmaconsulting at shaw.ca>>
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 5:01 PM
To: 'Dawit Demoz' <ddemoz at rstp.ca<mailto:ddemoz at rstp.ca>>, "psr at list.rstp.ca<mailto:psr at list.rstp.ca>" <psr at list.rstp.ca<mailto:psr at list.rstp.ca>>
Subject: Re: [PSRList] Finding Meaningful Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Privately Sponsored Refugees

Dear Mr. Dawit Memoz,

Thank you for informing us of this webinar to assist privately sponsored refugees to find employment. We have referred several groups of newly arrived privately sponsored (Afghan) families to JUMPSTART. Unfortunately, they have either chosen to ignore these referrals or worse, they have not responded to any queries from these families.

It is unconscionable that we should promote JUMPSTART (which receives money from IRCC and the federal government) if they willingly refuse to perform their mandate?  These actions by jumpstart border on negligence if not discrimination.

I will be taking a wait-and-see approach to determine if the actions of JUMPSTART require escalation.

Sincerely,

Mahmud Abdulla, RCIC
Cell: 587-971-4400

________________________________
From: PSR <psr-bounces at list.rstp.ca> on behalf of Dawit Demoz <ddemoz at rstp.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 4:57 PM
To: psr at list.rstp.ca <psr at list.rstp.ca>
Subject: [PSRList] Finding Meaningful Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Privately Sponsored Refugees

Dear Sponsors,

RSTP, in collaboration with Jumpstart Refugee Talent, is hosting a virtual webinar on Finding Meaningful Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Privately Sponsored Refugees and we invite you to join us.

Finding Meaningful Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Privately Sponsored Refugees
Date: April 28, 2022
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Where: Virtual

Jumpstart Refugee Talent is a refugee led non-profit organization and the only national organization exclusively serving refugees seeking meaningful economic inclusion. Program managers Saima Jamal and Shaharyar Khan will share with sponsors about their work on helping newcomers in navigating economic inclusion, meaningful employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in Canada. They will talk in detail about the existing programs in different cities throughout the country and how privately sponsored newcomers can access them. For questions, please email RSTP Trainer Dawit Demoz at ddemoz at rstp.ca.

Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdOuhrDgpGN3f2zu79uqTRZy-oRNpFcCH

Thank you.

Best regards,

Dawit Demoz, Trainer | Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP)

55 Town Centre Court, Suite 401, Toronto, ON M1P 4X4

Tel: 416.290.1700 ext. 2205 |Toll-Free 1.877.290.1701|ddemoz at rstp.ca<mailto:yaraya at rstp.ca> | www.rstp.ca

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Attention:

Thank you for contacting RSTP. The well-being of our staff, clients and volunteers is our highest priority. We remain closed for in-person visits during COVID-19, but we can help you over the phone or online. Check our "Contact Us" tab on our website www.rstp.ca for our phone numbers and our email address. Thank you.
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