Welcome to our End of Summer newsletter! The months of August and September have been busy for the Afghan Women’s Centre. We are thankful for your support and we are glad to present you with these last two months’ activities and events. 

Ministry of Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth Fund

We started off August with excellent news: the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth, announced $20.4 millions to support 92 projects across the country. The Afghan Women’s Centre is one of these projects: we will receive $203,702 to fund a project aiming to aid Muslim women better integrate in Quebecois communities through employment and community support. 

This fund represents an effort on behalf of the government to counter racism and favor inclusion among minorities across Canada: we want racial and religious minorities, as well as Indigenous people to have an easier access to jobs, education, and other essential resources.

Cooking lessons with Malalai Sherdil Azimi

The AWCM is proud to bring together people from different origins and communities through education and skills sharing. Our cooking lessons are one of these instances: on August 4th, Malalai Sherdil Azimi taught our members multiple Afghan recipes and they got to share moments of friendship. 

We look forward to organizing such events in the future, as it breaks our members’ isolation and loneliness in these trying times.

Canada’s response to the Taliban’s power takeover of Afghanistan 

On August 13th, Justin Trudeau’s government announced their plan to welcome 200 000 Afghan refugees to Canada. Following this announcement, the government promised to create a special program focusing on vulnerable groups, heavily targeted by the Taliban: women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, persecuted religious minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and family members of previously-resettled interpreters. 

August 20th’s Montreal March

On August 20th AWC held its own protest at Dorchester Square. Our goal was to raise awareness about the situation in Afghanistan, particularly about the threat women and their rights face under Taliban rule. We were touched by the hundreds of people who attended in solidarity. We would like to warmly thank everyone who gathered and marched with us. We look forward to organizing similar events in the future.

Virtual roundtable with Ministers Maryam Monsef, Marco Mendicino, and Marc Garneau

On August 22nd multiple members of Parliament led a virtual news conference to update the public on their response to the crisis in Afghanistan. Maryam Monsef, (Minister of Rural Economic Development and Women and Gender Equality of Canada), Marco Mendicino (Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), Harjit Sajjan (Minister of Defence), and Marc Garneau ( Minister of Foreign Affairs) promised that they were doing their best to accelerate the immigration process for Afghans wishing to relocate to Canada. They also extended their thanks to the citizens and organizations offering their own help and resources. If you want to know how you can help, click here.  

Radio-Canada news feature

Multiple members of the AWCM appeared on Radio-Canada’s Yasmine Khayat’s piece on the Afghan refugees resettlement program. This piece highlights the need for the government to accelerate the immigration process and the danger women are facing in Afghanistan at the moment.

Virtual roundtable with Minister Nadine Girault

On August 26th, Nadine Girault, Minister of International Relations and Francophonie in Quebec, held a roundtable on the provincial government’s plan to welcome Afghan refugees to Quebec. Members of the AWCM, representatives from the Bureau of Integration of Newcomers to the City of  Montreal, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, as well as other concerned organizations discussed the best ways to support Afghan refugees arriving in our province.

August 25th’s CTV News interview

On August 25th our centre got to disclose our services in terms of refugees resettlement on CTV News. Since the events of mid-August, we’ve been reaching out to the governments of Canada and Quebec through multiple means to express our positions on the resettlement program and the urgent needs of vulnerable Afghans. We hope the government will expand their plans in receiving newcomers. 

August 28th’s Montreal march 

On August 28th Montrealers took to the streets to prompt the Canadian government to to take more proactive actions to aid Afghan refugees wanting to join Canada. This was one of the many protests being held across the globe. Members of the Afghan Women’s Centre were counted among the many participants. 

This march demonstrated that Montrealers are not only willing but are demanding to welcome and support the refugees coming to this country. Protesters were concerned for displaced Afghans that still reside in the country, particularly women, for the treatment of women has only worsened since the Taliban has been gaining power. The participants agreed that the government welcoming 20 000 people is a step in the right direction, but also stated that there is much more to be done. 

photo: Pascal Ratthé

August 31st’s CBC interview

On August 31st, members of AWC participated in an interview with the CBC. The report explains that Canada has promised to welcome 20 000 Afghan refugees. As of now, 300 of the 2000  refugees are predicted to be arriving in Quebec although the date is unclear. After completing their quarantine, around 100 of those refugees will arrive in Montreal. The main priority at the moment is housing. The Afghan Women’s Centre is offering interpreters along with help from other organizations. The outpour of support has been appreciated. The organizations are doing their best to help without much guidance from the government.

September 1st’s panel

On September 1st a panel was held by Afghan community members, organizations and youth to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan with Canadian elected officials, Ministers Marco Mendicino, Maryam Monsef, Marc Garneau and Karina Gould. It was an opportunity to get an update concerning the government’s efforts in helping the people of Afghanistan. It also gave community members the space to ask questions and provide their insights to their representatives.

Welcoming Afghan refugees families to Montreal

Throughout the month of September, our centre welcomed three new Afghan families who arrived in Montreal. We supported them in their settlement, namely by providing assistance in finding housing. In collaboration with the Centre d'aide et de soutien aux immigrants, the Afghan Women's Centre offers its expertise and services to Afghan newcomers. 

September 30th’s Annual General Meeting 

On September 30th the AWCM organized its annual general meeting. Held completely on Zoom, this meeting gave us the opportunity to expose our yearly activities as well as our financial report. We got to touch on different important matters, including the Afghan refugees Canadian resettlement program and our objectives for the year ahead.

Our new volunteers

Throughout the last couple of months, we welcomed new volunteers to help us out. We’d like to thank Manon, Ninon, Nimasha, Camille, Marianne and Ekat for their time and dedication. 

Join our staff! 

We’re looking to fill out the position of a bilingual Communication Agent. We offer a 6 to 7-months contract beginning immediately with the possibility for a renewal. This is a full time position.