Agnes used to live in Rwanda with her husband until he was murdered. After fleeing, she spent years in a refugee camp before arriving in Prince Albert in a 19-year journey. (Submitted photo/YWCA Prince Albert)

By Susan McNeil

Refugee arrival

Over 100 newcomers in Prince Albert in three months mean resources needed

Jun 8, 2022 | 4:00 PM

In the last three months, over 100 refugees have been re-located to Prince Albert, a move that is stretching some of the resources at the YWCA.

Donna Brooks, who heads the YWCA, said that one thing they hope to do is teach the newcomers some basic digital literacy that may be lacking.

“We’re currently seeing a large number of refugees arriving in the Prince Albert area. In order for them to integrate and thrive in our community, it’s really important that we’re able to offer activities so that they really get to feel what the Canadian way of life is like,” Brooks said.

Between April 1 and June 7, Brooks said 104 refugees moved to the city and more have arrived since and even more will come, which means the organization is busy.

Recent refugees originated in Syria, the Congo, Somalia and Afghanistan.

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Right now, the YWCA is raising money to pay for a new program they have called Welcome Home.

They get some funding from the federal government but that covers the bare necessities of starting a home and taking ESL classes.

“We’re trying to raise money to hire an activities co-ordinator/computer programmer that will help our refugees by having activities in the community for them as well as teaching them community literacy,” said Brooks.

Many of the refugees, such as those from less developed parts of Africa with stays at camps in Libya, have never used a computer before, which makes tasks, like job searches or writing a resume, very difficult.

“What happens with refugees, we take it for granted…we have our cell phones, we have all this technology right at our fingertip, but a lot of times our refugees don’t,” Brooks said.

When people are fleeing a country with just the clothes on their backs, she said, they often then end up in a camp for years.

“They haven’t had a chance to even use a computer. They haven’t had a chance to learn English. They’re starting from absolute scratch,” she explains.

One of the best ways for newcomers to integrate into their new country is to have activities so that is the impetus for Welcome Home.

And, as always, they can use help. People interested in volunteering can contact the volunteer co-ordinator at the YWCA or call to see if any donations of household goods or clothing is required. People can donate money directly through the website at https://www.ywcaprincealbert.ca/whi.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow