- Keep Us Going
- The Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre
- Survivors of Torture
- Refugee Children
- Employer Hub
- Teach a Man to Fish
- Syrian Situation
With 35 years experience, we have grown to be a leader in resettlement.
Over 1,500 volunteers devote their time to help newcomers, along with our team of dedicated professionals committed to the success of our clients.
Make a direct impact on your community by donating to CCIS (Calgary Catholic Immigration Society).
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Help to Refugees |
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Each year over 300 refugees immigrate to the Calgary area. They are often fleeing persecution, torture, or other human rights violations. They are leaving the familiarity of friends, family and their home country to make a better life. Our laws, foods, language and culture are all new to them. In addition, CCIS supports the efforts of 10,000 newcomers looking to become active participants in Alberta's economic future. |
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Your donations can help with:
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Select your favorite program or allow CCIS to distribute donations where the need is greatest.
Be a Part of Our Success Stories
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Through the generosity of people like you, our work has made a difference in the lives of
Government Assisted Refugees
with the
THE MARGARET CHISHOLM RESETTLEMENT CENTRE
Every year, thousands of people are forced to flee their countries due to political instability or extreme poverty. They are ordinary people of all ages, genders, ethnic, religion and political beliefs. When they arrive, they have hope for the future, but little more than the possessions they were able to fit in a suitcase. The Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre (MCRC) provides temporary accommodation to newcomers as they begin the resettlement process in Calgary, and assists them in overcoming the initial obstacles of adjusting to a new country.
How You Can Help
Government Assisted Refugees (GARS) who are destined to Calgary are brought directly to MCRC from the airport and can stay for up to 19 days, until permanent accommodation is secured.
You can help by providing personal items such as:
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Through the generosity of people like you, our work has made a difference in the lives of
SURVIVORS OF TORTURE
Trauma is a very real component of life in a war-torn country. The effects of violence on families is quite dramatic.
How You Can Help
The healing process involves the rebuilding of trust, regaining a sense of balance and control, having a chance to talk about what has happened, and having a support network available when needed.
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Your support will ensure that CCIS has the necessary tools (musical instruments, art supplies and so much more) to assist with process of engagement and community connection. |
Success Story |
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Last summer, the Community Support Program for Survivors of Torture met a single mom with a history of traumatic experiences. She was overwhelmed with her memories, with the changes she was experiencing in Canada, and with learning how to navigate Calgary and its complex systems. The program introduced her to a volunteer who became a regular support, helping her with the adaptation process to life in Canada. Recently, the volunteer gave this update: |
Through the generosity of people like you, our work has made a difference in the lives of
REFUGEE CHILDREN
Every year, thousands of children are uprooted from their homes and countries to immigrate to a new country for a safe refuge or to escape extreme poverty. The Refugee Child Enhanced Integration Project was created to provide these children with extra support to deal with any resettlement issues which may have an impact on their emotional and academic performance. There are currently 150 children from 12 countries in 31 schools in Calgary who are faced with a major life change. With your support, we can continue to provide services for these children.
How You Can Help
Join us in working to allow these students to focus on their academic performance, thereby becoming successful Canadian citizens.
| Success Story |
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Ali (pseudonym) is a sixteen year old teenager who came from Syria, but was originally from Somalia. He arrived with his mom and younger sister. When Ali first started school, his teachers were very concerned about him because he began to isolate himself from his peers. He was withdrawn and didn't like school because he was afraid that others would make fun of him for the way he spoke English. He seemed depressed, and his family began to worry about him and was unsure about what to do. |
As part of intervention, RCEIP staff visited him in his home to find out what was going on. Staff believed that the best way to get him out of his shell was to use a Buddy Match. Staff introduced Ali to a another high school refugee student from the same cultural background. He committed to spending a few hours a week with Ali socializing and taking part in sports, such as soccer. Ali was also referred to attend two weeks of a summer camp dance program where he became the star of the performance. As others lined up to get his autograph and picture, staff were glad to see his self esteem increasing!
Through the generosity of people like you, our work has made a difference in the lives of
newcomers immigrating to Calgary.
Calgary continues to be a destionation of choice for an increasing number of immigrants and refugees. In order to embrace change, and to support the growth and prosperity of our city, we must create conditions for success, with welcoming communities where newcomers feel safe, accepted and respected. CCIS has many programs to help our newest citizens, one of which is the EMPLOYMENT HUB. This online job search website offers a variety of services and information for both employers and job seekers in Southern Alberta.
How You Can Help
CCIS works with the community in order to provide immigrant newcomers with the necessary resources required to adequately integrate into the Canadian society. Your donation will assist with program development and continue to enhance our services.
The “Teach a Man to Fish” Project
With funding from Calgary Learns, CCIS’ Computer Training for Employment (CTE) Program provides affordable computer training to low-income learners who want to gain valuable computer skills for everyday use or to enhance their competitiveness in the job market. Although our course fees are customized for low-income learners, we are often approached by applicants who are interested in computer training, but are unable to participate due to financial constraints.
Inspired by the Lao Tzu proverb, “Give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime,” we are encouraging generous members of our community to make online donations to cover the expenses for Basic Computer Training for 2 of our most vulnerable client groups who often face significant financial barriers: seniors and refugees.
The majority of seniors (90%) are retired and living on a limited, fixed income. As a result, their access to training (especially computer training) is limited. In addition to financial constraints, many seniors are at risk of living in isolation. The CTE program has the capacity to deliver basic computer classes which will provide Seniors with the necessary skills and self-confidence to secure employment, broaden their social networks, and remain connected with their friends, families and communities through computer technology. All financially limited seniors, with no restrictions, are welcome to join us!
Although many refugees arrive in Calgary with hope and optimism about rebuilding their lives in Canada, they also face a myriad of challenges (including overcoming cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers) while resettling and integrating into their new communities. In most of cases, refugees arrive with limited computer literacy and language skills; nevertheless, their eagerness to learn and give back to their new country often outweigh their learning challenges. The CTE program would therefore like to help refugees channel this energy and enthusiasm into upgrading their computer skills, enhancing their employability, and increasing their chances for successful integration into our society.
Based on existing resources for our CTE program, we are able to deliver bi-lingual classes to refugee clients, wherein Instructors will speak in the participants’ native language while the software and course materials are offered in English; this methodology will ensure clients simultaneously improve their computer, language, and life skills. Available languages include:
• English • Serbo-Croatian • Farsi • Arabic • Tagalog • Spanish
The comprehensive basic training will cover:
- File management
- Basic MS Word
- Social Media
- On-line Job Search*
- On-line job application*
* Available for Seniors only under group request.
It costs only $1,200 to deliver a 30-hour computer training program that will enhance the skills of 15 learners and improve 15 lives.
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Teach a Man to Fish
Your support makes our work possible. The commitment and generosity of our donors allows us to continue our efforts at every level of the resettlement process.
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Fariborz Birjandian, CEO of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, praised the federation for creating the task force and thanked the community for its wave of support.
If you would like assistance with your donation, please contact Khalid Hakim at 403.262.2006, Monday-Friday from 9am - 4pm MT
or email us at donations [AT] ccisab [DOT] ca