Issue 17 | January 2022
Dear friends and supporters,

As we settle into the new year and new routines, we continue to provide a warm welcome to refugees making Waterloo Region their new home. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused challenges for everyone, we have been heartened by the outpouring of support from the community. Creating a welcoming environment for newcomers is a community effort, and we are grateful for all the support shown to us and the people we serve! 
Small Business, Big Dreams
How newcomer Nada P. is strengthening her digital literacy to realize her goals.

Meet Nada P! An incredibly resilient and entrepreneurial single mom of four, and new member of our community! Nada is one of twenty participants in the #digitalengagementproject, and has received a Chromebook to support her digital literacy training.

“There are so many things to learn…I don’t know where to start,” she confessed when we met up at Café Pyrus in the Fall. With guidance from our Life Skills – Digital Engagement Lead, Fareed, as well as her new tech buddy volunteer, Omar, she will gain the knowledge and skills needed to explore all that Virtual Waterloo Region has to offer.
When we met, Nada seemed optimistic and ready to realize her potential…but things have not always been so hopeful for this resourceful mother of four.

The war broke out in Nada’s home in South Sudan when she was just a little girl, since then, she has been on the run or in transit, seeking a safe place to live and work.
Royal Homes Gift to Provide New Home Kits for Refugees
Thank you to Royal Homes for their donation of $125,000 to be used by Reception House to provide “First Canadian Home Start-Up Kits” for refugee families moving from temporary accommodations to their first home in Canada. These kits will include kitchenware, small appliances, tool kits and general household items.
Thank you to everyone who joined in Ride for Refuge!
Thank you to everyone who rode, walk, cycled, jogged, gamed and helped raise funds during Ride for Refuge.

Together, we raised over $20,000 which will be utilized in our Digital Engagement Project.
Do you know how to say Hello, how are you in Dari? 

Salaam Alaikum
Do you know how to say Hello in Pasto/Pashto? 

Salam Aleikum
Photo Credit: Craig Baila
Organizational update re: Covid-19

Essential services continue in-person with isolation and quarantine periods as refugees arrive in the country. As many other workplaces have done, we’ve updated our vaccination policies and are following Public Heath mandates.
Removing barriers to vaccines for Waterloo Region’s refugees
We have been working behind the scenes to ensure that our newest neighbours have access to Covid-19 vaccines. Case manager Craig reached out to the Region to see how we could best work together to bring vaccines to our clients.

The mobile vaccination bus came to Reception House's temporary accommodation locations several times to ensure everyone reached a vaccine. So far 176 doses have been administered.

“Clients and Reception House staff were grateful for the flexibility and ingenuity of the mobile clinic staff,” said Craig Baila. “The multi-disciplinary team addressed concerns of clients and put their heads together to tackle challenging questions. Working together, we were able to figure out how to validate overseas records and ensure that people were able to access their vaccine certificate.”

We continue to work with the Region to ensure those who need access to vaccine have access, whether it is the first or second dose. As well, we have been supporting those who have received a dose before arriving in Canada by assisting with registering these doses.
Book Recommendation:
Congratulations to Omar El Akkad for winning Scotiabank Giller Prize for novel What Strange Paradise recently.

What Strange Paradise is a novel that tells the story of a global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child.
Thank you for your support
over the seasonal holidays!
Thank you to the Church of the Holy Saviour for your support!
Barb and the SVP network donating items.
Thank you to Barb and the SVP network for the donation of hygiene products, toys and school supplies.
Church of the Holy Saviour donating items
Thank you to ApplyBoard for your donations!
Thank you to the Waterloo Knights of Columbus for your generous donations of toys.
Thank you Elevation Church for spending a Sunday with Reception House.
Elevation Church helped RH with organizing
Community members generous donating items
Holiday donations
Community members seasonal greeting cards
Holiday cards
Thank you to Townline Muslim Centre for providing a meal from Ace Shawarma and Coalition of Muslim Women KW for providing teddy bears for children staying in temporary accommodations.
Thanks also to Waterloo Wayside, Lincoln Heights Neighbourhood, and the Afghan community for their generous donations.
Reception House Waterloo Region | 519-743-0445 | www.receptionhouse.ca
We wish you a safe, healthy and happy return to school, work and routine!