Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2019
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For the latest news and updates
Check out the Military Family Services (Europe)
Facebook
page or view one of our many information briefs on
YouTube
.
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Your Military Family Services Team
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A Message from Sue Goddard, Senior Manager for MFS(E)
To all our new arrivals, welcome to Europe!
Living in Europe can be amazing, rewarding and a life changing experience. But it can also sometimes be frustrating, challenging and a little difficult.
While you are posted to Europe, Military Family Services (MFS) is here to help
you
and your
family
make the transition to your new community as smoothly as possible. Our goal is to provide you and your family with whatever support and information we can to help make this posting an amazing experience for your family.
Our programs and services have been developed to meet the needs of CAF families posted to Europe. Some of these services include:
- Welcome packages and activities
- Information and referral services
- Personal development and community integration activities
- Child and Youth Programs
- Mental Health Programs
- Employment and Education
- A robust virtual program providing book clubs, coffee mornings, seminars and workshops.
Hopefully you have already visited your local Military Family Service Centre to pick up your welcome bag and meet your MFS team members. If you live remotely, your welcome bag will be delivered to you. The welcome bag contains various items for your transition as well as a flash drive that has very useful information, such as your local Guide. MFS staff will be in touch with each family shortly after arrival, but in the meantime, if you need information or have a concern,
visit this page
to get contact information for staff that support families in your area.
Remember that your personal attitude and expectations will also directly impact your experience. Things will be different in Europe. Keep your attitude positive, your expectations realistic and be prepared to practice patience when necessary.
Most importantly, come to Europe with an open mind and a willingness to embrace this wonderful new adventure. But if you do find yourself or a family member struggling to adapt, please do not hesitate to contact any of our team members.
You just arrived, and you want to know how to make the best of your time in your new location? Check out our Guides!
Find your location on our website
and our guides are just one click away! The guides are living documents. As a result, if you have suggestions and would like to contribute to the well-being of our new comers, please contact your MFS(E) Centre. We are always looking for volunteers to help us create new guides and improve upon our existing guides.
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If you newly arrived in Europe,
you might wonder what MFS(E) can offer you. We have prepared a document highlighting our programs and services, which you can consult in a PDF format and print as necessary. Simply click on the image to access the document.
We are looking forward to meet you all!
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We are your voice to the Military Family Services (Europe)
As a group of volunteers, the Military Family Services (Europe) Advisory Committee’s primary role is to provide advice to the Senior Manager MFS Program Europe about the needs of the community and to enhance the effectiveness of the program, regardless of where families are posted throughout Europe. If you want to get involved with the MFS(E) AC, contact
Sue Goddard
, MFS(E) Senior Manager.
Here are a few suggestions to ease your way into a European OUTCAN posting:
- MFS(E) frequently offers webinars that can help with orientation. Webinar schedules are emailed monthly. Recordings of previous webinars may also be accessed via YouTube.
- Get involved! It can be overwhelming to put yourself out there and ask for help, or attend events where you don’t know anyone. However, generally speaking, the longer you wait to get involved and create a local support network, the harder it becomes. Attending local coffee mornings and community events, will help you to become familiar with your community and start building relationships. In communities which are not served by a resource centre (NSE), community members are able to volunteer to organize community events. Your Community Services Manager (CSM) is the best person to contact to initiate the process of volunteering and requesting funds for such events.
- Try not to overwhelm yourself with multiple relocation tasks in one day. Going to the post office, grocery store or hair salon in your new location can take much longer than you’d expect, especially where English or French isn’t the mother language. Plan to attempt one important task per day. For example, in Italy, applying for your “Permesso di Soggiorno” (residency permit) can be a long appointment. So, scheduling something immediately following could create a timing issue and therefore, a stressful situation. Aiming for one achieved task per day allows you to focus on the current task at hand. It also provides a great sense of accomplishment when your to-do list is complete for the day!
- We strongly encourage you to read the handbook relevant to your posting location. The guide is an excellent reference or even starting point for your own research. Recommendations have been made by other community members based on their experience living in your community.
Being open to new experiences and opportunities can greatly enrich your OUTCAN experience. We hope you enjoy the unique experience of living in Europe!
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Welcome to all the new families arriving in Europe!
Myriam Chebat, M.A, S.W
Social Worker, Military Family Services Europe
As you unpack your boxes and discover your new environment, you may be wondering how you can best support your children through this transition.
Being a military child can be really, really… really tough: being uprooted every few years and perpetually adapting to new environments, being repeatedly separated and reunited with a parent or parents (and possibly worrying about their safety), are just a few of the stressors that military children know all too well.
But what if these stressors were, sometimes, blessings in disguise? Some misfortunes can be
"marvellous",
to use Boris Cyrulnik’s (2000) (1) paradoxical oxymoron: certain extreme conditions offer challenges, from which the individual can manage to draw strength and new skills.
The concept of psychological resilience refers to an individual’s ability to ‘’bounce back’’ and recover after having undergone a strong external pressure, shock or trauma; it is a process that involves a loss of balance, a transformation, then a readjustment and growth. It is not only a set of
personal
characteristics, but a continuous feedback loop between the individual and their
social environment
, where new tools are discovered to help deal with imbalance. The presence of a solid network of social support, a sense of belonging within a community and having strong affective ties with at least one other significant person are all
social
factors that act as a buffer to psychological distress.
What are some things you can do to promote the development of resilience in your child?
- Spend time together as a family. Network with other military families and encourage contact with the local community.
- Encourage activities where your child can make friends, and facilitate contact with friends and family members overseas.
- Facilitate your child’s participation in extracurricular activities that build your child’s confidence and self-esteem, and that help develop a sense of mastery. Focus on fun, leisurely, sports and social activities that match their particular strengths and interests.
- Cyrulnik considers "narrativity" as central to the process of resilience: encourage your child to express their personal narrative and life story through story-telling, drawing and play. Help them make sense, and ascribe meaning to their experience.
- Encourage your child to grow roots wherever they are, even though the separation will be tough. Accompany them emotionally through the transitions by helping them identify and express their emotional experience. Encourage their goal-setting and problem-solving skills, foster hope and optimism.
- Contact your local MFS(E) to inquire about programs and services that can help. You’re not in this alone!
For further reading:
English:
Francais:
As a Jewish child during World War II, he was entrusted to a foster family for his own protection. In 1943 he was taken with adults in a Nazi-led capture in Bordeaux. He avoided detention by hiding for a while in the restrooms and later being hidden from Nazi searches as a farm boy under the name
Jean Laborde
until the end of the war. Both of his parents were arrested and murdered during
World War II
. His own survival motivated his career in psychiatry.
[1]
He studied medicine at the
University of Paris
. He wrote several books of popular science on psychology. He is known in
France
for developing and explaining to the public the concept of
Psychological resilience
’’ Source: Wikipedia.
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Ongoing Emotional Support with the Family Information Line
Are you having issues accessing mental health support services due to geographic location or language barriers i
n your communities? The Family Information Line (FIL) team is happy to share an important initiative: ongoing emotional support.
Families of military members and veterans are able to seek emotional support with the same FIL team member at a predetermined time using the point of access of their choice: phone or via Webex.
Stephanie and Lisa are experienced team members at the FIL who are currently providing this extended service. If you require emotional support, please do not hesitate to reach them by email at
FIL@CAFConnection.ca
or at
00-800-771-17722
. They are looking forward to serving the families together.
If you would like more information on the ongoing emotional support service,
click here
.
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The RCPO, CFSU(E) has an inventory of work vacancies, posted on the
CAF Connection website
. Dependents and spouses may browse this website if they are interested in working and submit their applications. As the inventory remains open, applications can be updated as dependents gain new qualifications or find new interests.
This inventory is open to dependents of Canadian civilian component and CAF members stationed in Europe. It will be used to staff positions within CFSU(E) locations in Europe and Turkey (Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and UK).
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For Global Affairs Canada local employment opportunities in Europe
click here
.
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You made it! You are here in Brussels. Welcome!
By Katelin Leblond, Community Services Manager
Now that you have arrived, there is some important information that can help you thrive while you are living here in Belgium.
For starters, MFSE operates differently than MFRCs back in Canada. Due to how we are funded, we cannot provide some of the services you might be accustomed to receiving from MFRCs back home, like childcare for example. However, while we may not be able to provide childcare, we can absolutely assist you in finding the right fit for your family.
In terms of shopping, unlike Canada, every store has their own opening hours. Don’t assume that if one Carrefour opens at 0830, that all Carrefour’s open at 0830. And, if the store opens at 8, the employees will not likely be quite ready. If the store closes at 1900, don’t try to get in at 1845. A 1900 closing time means the employees will be gone by 1900. It’s not unusual to arrive at your favourite restaurant to find it closed for 3 weeks in August without warning… well perhaps a hand written note on the door ;) It’s always a good idea to check opening hours before leaving; some stores even close at lunch time. Grocery stores are usually closed on Sundays (except for Carrefour Express or Proxy, which is similar to a corner store back home). Stores that are always open on Sundays are; bakeries, nurseries, furniture stores, car dealers. As well, smaller stores will close down for holidays.
A great alternative to grocery stores here in Brussels are farmers markets. Each commune has different days for markets, you should figure out what days and where the market is since they offer many different produce items and fresh food. Click
here
to see a map of communes and the markets each commune offers along with their hours.
Each commune also has different rules and regulation for waste management. To ensure your recyclables are picked up, have a look at
this website. Click
here
for a list of collection days based on your location.
The Public Transportation in Brussels is very efficient and easy to use once you get the hang of it. Using the metro, bus, or tram, you can get almost anywhere within the city. Just by the tap of your MOBIB card you can access all of these modes of transportation. Each card can be tapped for up to three people in one trip and is reloadable at most underground stations. Click
here for a website with all of the network maps of Brussels.
And remember you are always welcome at Maison Marquis! We tend to have weekly programming for spouses such as coffee mornings and monthly activities to facilitate bonds between the members of our community. MFS office hours are 0900 – 1500 Monday through Thursday. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have.
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Military Mamas
By Alex McDonald, Community member and proud mama
I did not grow up in a military family. I was taught from a young age that guns are bad, and war is sad; two things I still believe for the most part, especially the latter. I had never really thought of what it was like to be a military partner until I met Greg. He was leaving for Afghanistan in only a few weeks when we met, and our intense connection went from exciting to heartbreaking in the weeks leading up to his deployment. I will never forget the way my heart felt like it was physically breaking as I drove away from him in his uniform the day he left. I looked around at the kids and knew I would never be as strong as those women who were helping them say goodbye.
Years past and I resisted being immersed in the military culture. I volunteered briefly at the MFS and led a few workshops for Military Mamas, but something inside me told me that I was still on the outside. Maybe it was the condolences and sad looks I got when I said my partner was in the military. I don't know how many times I heard the words " It must be so hard..." Society paints a picture of military wives that doesn't fit with how many of us feel.
It wasn't until our posting in Belgium that I truly opened myself to having friends that were military partners. Friends like the one I first encountered over a decade ago. Ones that I felt worlds apart from before, but beings across the world has brought me to see what we are.
Loving a soldier, and truly recognizing what that means is something so hard to put into words. I have learned that we are all stronger than we knew. We hold down the fort so our partners can be alert, calm and ultimately safe. This doesn't mean we keep the dust to a minimum and the oil changed. It means they depend on us to maintain life as they know it and be solely responsible for their most loved people. It means we help our children cope; with change and pain and longing. We do this when we are already feeling those things so loud ourselves. It means we have to come to terms with the fact that our partners are people that would take our children's very most loved person away from them, so others are safer, and that is something that is both terrifying and truly beautiful.
I am not sure if I resisted true connection with my community because I knew I was not as strong as the women I saw around me at the start, or as sad as those not in the community made me feel I should be. But I know that I am both. When I am solo parenting, I feel competent and strong and empowered. We mamas can all do more than we know possible. But when I am sad, because those times do come; it is only others who truly understand who I want to connect with. And a military community is a family who loves and supports unconditionally. Because we are all both incredibly strong and are faced with tough reminders more than others.
And that makes life and love a little more precious.
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Secondary School in Europe
By Katherine Reiffenstein, YEP student
One of the most difficult parts of moving has to be changing schools. Especially in high school the stress of making new friends, transferring credits, and adjusting to new school systems can weigh heavily on a teenagers shoulders. I’ve asked around the Canadian community about people’s experiences with secondary schooling options in Europe, and have written down my findings.
One of the most popular schools for Canadian students in Europe is Neuchâtel Junior College in Switzerland. It’s located in a small town and its headmaster is Andrew J. Keleher. Class sizes are small as the school has a population of about 60-80 students. This small class size also allows them to have frequent trips around Europe. Another interesting component is that students live with Swiss families in the area; Students can request to live in the countryside or in the city, with or without roommates, and if they want their family to have any other children. While this school is clearly a great opportunity there are some drawbacks. The school is only for grade 12’s which means kids have to do grades up to this at the American school. Also due to rising tuition costs, families now have to pay a percentage of the tuition.
Another popular schooling choice is the American school on SHAPE. It is a more typical high school and has a much higher population than the other schools. Students have a wide array of sports and courses to choose from, and learn in a diverse environment alongside kids from all different countries. Not to mention, if your kid is planning on going to an american university this sets them up perfectly. However, if your child does not plan on graduating at an American school there can be issues with transferring credits, leading to late graduation. Also the American international high school is structured to align with American high school students requirements, and doesn’t align well with the Canadian high school system. Furthermore, many Canadian courses, like Canadian geography, are not offered at the American school so students have to take online courses in order to meet those credits. And because the Canadian and American math curriculum are so different, there are issues when transferring between them.
Lastly, and most overlooked, there is Canadian College Italy the school I chose to go to. The motto of Canadian College Italy or CCI is
perge et valeas, which means “proceed and you shall succeed” this motto really captures the essence of CCI’s priorities. It has the smallest class size of around 5-10 people per class, with an average of 30-50 students per year, and it covers grades 10-12. There is an extremely close relationship between the students and teachers, and a level of mutual respect you don’t see often in high school. Because of the small class size there are frequent trips all around Italy, visiting major landmarks like Florence, Venice, and Rome. If there are any drawbacks it would be the lack of arts courses within the school, and the long distance from Belgium.
Moving to Europe is the adventure of a lifetime, and going to high school here is a major part of that adventure. I hope what I have written has given you insight into the best schooling option for your child.
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My Experience as a YEP Student
By Jeremy Quang Nguyen, YEP student
Moving abroad can be one of the best experiences that can happen to you. The chance to see the world from a different perspective and learn a whole different way of living. Whether it be the language barrier, the cultural nuances, or even just the people, this cultural change can be hard to adapt to and bring a lot of stress.
Personally, one of the things that stressed me the most was gaining work experience. For many teens, its around the ages of 15, 16, 17 that we realize the importance of working; being able to finally fill in those blanks on our resumes and gain this “independence” from our parents. Seeing as I was in a new country, one where I could not even speak the language, I started to worry. My concerns were quickly lifted, as in life there are always resource there for you. In my case, it was the
Youth Employment Preparation P
rogram. This program allowed me to learn the essentials to succeed in the adult world. I learned how to approach resume writing, interviews, found the importance of networking, and most importantly I had the opportunity to experience the “
real world”
and gain solid work experience.
Last year as well as this summer, I was given the opportunity to work as assistant Community Services Provider in Naples, Italy. This job tested my leadership skills, organisational skills and communication skills. I was required to work along professionals in their field and learn from them. I had the chance to engage with the community by organizing and leading activities for the local Canadian youth and even prepare entertainment packages for those who were remote. Essentially, through this position, I was able to better prepare myself for the job market by gaining professional training, understanding how to properly function in a community focused environment, making sure that my work is always finished on time, that my supervisor is always satisfied with my work ethic and achievements.
Acquiring all those important skills is something that I am thankful for. The YEP program helped me transition into the work force and I am now able to include many new skills and experiences in my resume as I am preparing to go back to Canada. For all that you can get out of it, I strongly recommend all the youths to take part in this wonderful MFS(E) program!
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A Letter of Giving Thanks – sincerely
From Nalini Shekhar, Community Services Manager
Dear MFS(E) Volunteer, you matter more than you think!
Thank you doesn’t say enough, not when you’ve answered our call long before it was ever made. You found time and the heart to support our community, giving both generously and cheerfully and there is nothing to measure the true impact of your contribution. Without our volunteers we would have a heap of services and not enough hands to deliver them. You are among the very few people who make a difference in people’s lives.
Life brings with it both joys and sorrows. There are times of grief from the bereavement of a loved one, or despondency from a broken relationship, a wrong decision or a failure. And there are times of just sheer helplessness with the weight of your own ill-health. When you come out of trauma, you think of the people who supported you, and encouraged you to start anew. You think back to the many occasions when events or incidents ‘happened’ – and then your heart warms to the memory of a friendly face of a volunteer bringing you coffee and a snack on load day. That memory travels back in time to the first week of your posting, and brings a smile with the images of the Welcome BBQ and the many helping hands outstretched in a warm welcome handshake, and the serving of food and your introduction to the community where you will live. You remember children reaching out to one another to make your own little ones feel special and like they belong – like they always have belonged and have come home to roost. On a stressful day, you remember receiving food cooked lovingly by community members that you partook of, relishing the special ingredient of goodness what was drizzled in, for good measure.
It is not about the ideas….It’s about making them happen. Volunteers make things happen. All the paid services in the world cannot deliver the depth of completeness of a service that the volunteer brings with no expectation of anything other than what he/she puts into the service.
You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. –John Bunyan
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention – Oscar Wilde
Love cannot remain by itself. Love has to be put into action and that action is service – Mother Teresa
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Khalil Gibran
Only you can give your special gift to the world
- Volunteers have the most amazing superpower of all. When they touch one person, they touch them all.
- As a plant spreads its seeds across the land, so do you too spread compassion far beyond where you're planted.
- In life, there are no sure bets, except that people like you will rise to the occasion and make the world a better place.
THANK YOU.
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Reflecting on my past year
By Katheryn Symington, Community Services Provider
Now that it’s summer, I find myself reflecting on this past year after arriving here in Latvia full of wanderlust and a craving to understand this corner of the Baltic Region. Being our second OUTCAN, I’m quite aware of the challenges of living in a foreign community, but this posting comes with the additional challenge of not knowing the local language.
Most times we find a kind soul who knows English and is doing everything they can to help us. I didn’t realize how much I appreciated these folks until I had to walk away from a store and approach it another day armed with more patience and a translated sentence or two. Other times, I find myself laughing at things I never found funny before, like the terrifying experience of being yelled at in Latvian or Russian for touching a bag I wanted to buy. I still love those bags, but she keeps on yelling at me. Maybe next time I’ll buy one, or maybe I’ll walk away giggling.
I’ve quickly realized that the stoic nature of the Latvians shouldn’t be confused with being unfriendly. We have met many very kind Latvians who enjoy sharing the details of their culture and ways to enhance our “Latvian” experience, and it doesn’t take long to find another interesting corner of the country to explore. Their culture is dynamic, complex but simple, and it keeps on drawing my interest to learn more.
For me, the most rewarding part of my experience is making connections with fellow Canadians. Each of us is away from the support systems we once knew, and we have quickly become a close-knit support network. It’s something I’d never experienced until being on an OutCan. Although we are here to experience the Latvian culture and way of life, it’s also a time to learn what makes Canadians incredible.
Another posting season is upon us and it almost feels like New Year’s Eve, with the promise of what the next year has to offer. But there’s also the knowledge that I have one less year to enjoy this amazing city and wonderful people I’ve met along the way. It’s hard not to be sentimental, so I’ll just sign off by saying “liels paldies” (thank you very much) for being part of my Latvian experience.
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Summer 2019 in the United Kingdom
By Eric MacKenzie,
Community Services Manager
It is hard to believe that it is now August. For those of you who were on the ground in July, you would have experienced an unusual heat wave in the U.K. For others, it may have been your last time celebrating Canada Day abroad, as this summer means you will be returning to Canada.
Moving and settling into any OUTCAN location can be challenging, but also very exciting. We are fortunate in the U.K. that we are not in a foreign language location. It is wonderful to also be in the “hub of Europe” for travel, as you can essentially fly anywhere from London.
Personally, I moved over during the month of June, and it is terrific to be on the ground. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting our CAF community during In and Out-Clearances, and have already experienced a weekend away traveling to Ireland. I hope you will all experience the same opportunities in the near future, as adventures in Europe are at your doorstep.
For those of you arriving this APS, you are part of more than 370 members, spouses, and children posted to the U.K. that our MFS team in the U.K. helps support. We are here to facilitate the integration of your family into your new posting. This is accomplished through telephone and e-mail outreach as well as through virtual programming, groups and workshops for your spouse and children. As you and your family begin your transition to the U.K., MFS(E) is here to assist.
On that note, if you have any questions about living in the U.K. or Europe, or if you wish to know what your MFS(E) team can do to help your family during your transition, please contact us directly at
MFSE.UK@cfmws.com
Thank you, and I look forward to hopefully seeing you in Ruislip at the U.K. Forum from 03 – 04 Oct 19.
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Visit our
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Children's Education Management
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Welcome to Europe! We would like to introduce our CEM's team working in Geilenkirchen!
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Nathalie Gagné
As Children Education Management Officer (Europe), Nathalie serves CAF/DND members, their families, teachers and school employees in all aspects of the children education management program in continental Europe. Under the general supervision of the Children Education Management Officer (Europe), CEM (Europe) - is charged with, on behalf of the Commanding Officer CFSU(E), all aspects of education allowances and related care benefits as well as providing administration of education and related care of dependent children based on the Military Foreign Service Instructions (MFSI).
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Theresa MacLellan
Tracey administers and processes Education and Travel Allowance claims, tuition fee payments and other financial management duties. She ensures effective and accurate administration of claims and assists in identifying feasible school options within Europe. She will provide you with administrative support, advice and policy guidance.
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Tobias Scott
Tobias is responsible for the administrative duties of SHAPE and AFNORTH teachers. He makes their benefits allowances every month, verifies all pay sheets, leave reports and prepares all types of claims (TD, Move, HHT) for teachers going to Canada or coming from Canada. He handles all the stationery demands for both schools. Tobias also helps to make educational requests.
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Ann Shoeni
Ann is the Administrative Assistant to the Manager. She performs other related duties, such as processing incoming and outgoing mail, manually or electronically, coordinating the flow of information, ordering office supplies, maintaining section education materials, and setting up and maintaining manual and computerized information filing systems.
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Personnel Support Program (PSP)
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The PSP Chalet Program offers accommodation options in various parts of Europe at a 40% subsidy by the European Fund. All accommodations are fully furnished and well equipped. The PSP Chalet Program also offers Full-Flex vouchers. The Full Flex vouchers can be used to offset the cost associated with accommodations such as hotel rooms, RV rentals, vacation apartments, as well as cruises. Prizes are awarded in a lottery held twice a year.
Visit our
website
for more information about the program and the chalets available. You may also contact the Chalet Coordination for more details at
+PSPEurope@forces.gc.ca
.
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The European Fund (EF) Academic Program is established to recognize the academic accomplishments of students graduating from high school who are dependants of European Fund Members and to encourage students to continue towards post-secondary studies. All students accepted and attending a recognized post-secondary establishment will receive up to € 500.
Click here for all the details.
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Are you a European Fund member? Were you or any of your family member hospitalized for more than 48 hrs? We’re here to help! You might be eligible to claim for hospital comfort.
Click here for all the details
.
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Support to EF Families During Spouse's (CAF or civilians) Deployment and CAF member Temporary Duty or Course
Will your spouse be away for TD, deployment or course for more than 30 consecutive days? You might be eligible for reimbursement of € 100 per month to a max of € 600.
Click here for all the details
.
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EF members who are not part of a Unit Fund due to their geographical location are termed Non-Unit Fund (NUF) members. In order to ensure equitability across Formation Europe, NUF members have the same entitlements; however, certain entitlements are managed differently depending on location. For more details on each of these benefits or visit our website at
www.cafconnection.ca/Europe.
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