make huron home winter 2015 newsletter: multicultural association perth-huron
DESCRIPTION
“Newcomers to Huron and Perth Counties enrich their communities by teaching us about the world we live in, and reminding us that even though we may be different, we are all the same.” - Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, founder and community liaison facilitator, the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron Helping newcomers feel at home is what the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron is all about. Immigrants to Canada, newcomers from other provinces, and isolated foreign and Canadian migrants will all find a warm welcome, information and support at the Multicultural Association office in Stratford, Ontario. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, the Multicultural Association of Perth-Huron (MAPH) assists newcomers in Perth and Huron Counties to adjust to life in their new communities by providing services throughout the two counties.TRANSCRIPT
Multicultural Association ofPerth‐Huron supports newcomers
Support for
Huron Local Immigration Partnership Winter 2015
Helping newcomers feel at home is what the
Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron is all about.
Immigrants to Canada, newcomers from other
provinces, and isolated foreign and Canadian migrants
will all find a warm welcome, information and support
at the Multicultural Association office in Stratford,
Ontario. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, the
Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron (MAPH)
assists newcomers in Perth and Huron Counties to
adjust to life in their new communities by providing
services throughout the two counties.
Since he arrived in Stratford in 2011, Gezahgn Wordofa
(known to his friends as Geza) has volunteered most of
his waking life to becoming part of the community and
helping others. In a short amount of time, he has
become a member of the Stratford Rotary Club, the
Stratford Area Chamber of Commerce and a founding
member of Stratford Toastmasters.
newcomers
“Newcomers to Huron and Perth
Counties enrich their
communities by teaching us
about the world we live in, and
reminding us that even though
we may be different, we are all
the same.” - Dr. Gezahgn WordofaContinued on Page 2
Page 2
Wordofa knows firsthand how
hard it is to be a newcomerWordofa is often found volunteering at churches and
with many non‐profit groups including Salvation Army,
House of Blessing, SAWA and the United Way. He has
been recognized many times in the local news for his
efforts and achievements and now is a household name
for anyone doing humanitarian work in the area.
Originally from Ethiopia, Wordofa studied at the
University of Moscow where he graduated World
History, International Relations, Human Rights and
Diplomacy. He went on to become Goodwill World Peace
Ambassador for ten years before leaving to raise a family
with his wife Nicole and their son Aaron in Canada.
Having to adjust many times in the past to new cultures
and communities, Wordofa knew firsthand how hard it is
to be a newcomer. Moving to Canada was no exception
and he began to seek out immigrants in Perth‐Huron
area who needed support. Working out of coffee shops,
Wordofa helped countless individuals adjust to living in
Canada while developing the proposal for his support
service, the Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron.
After communicating his vision to others, Wordofa
quickly gained support of a small group of like‐minded
individuals. This led to the MAPH being tabled as a new
project proposal for the United Way Perth‐Huron. The
idea was well received and on October 5, 2013 the
official launch of the pilot project was held.
Wordofa has been awarded many times for his volunteer
work in Canada from the likes of the University of
Toronto for speaking on Women's Empowerment, the
Red Cross for Humanitarian Work with Youth Programs
and the Newcomer Champion Award from the Ontario
Government. He has been described as a community
leader and volunteer dedicated to helping immigrants of
all ages better integrate and feel at home in Ontario.
Even though he landed in a small community, Wordofa
keeps his eyes on the bigger picture with international
initiatives in Moscow, Russia working with refugees and
the homeless. He is also actively raising money for
health clinics, schools and clean water for small
communities in his home of Ethiopia while educating
people on their human rights.
From page 1
Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, founder and community liaison facilitator, the Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron, with his Newcomer Champion Award presented to him by the Ontario government.
Newcomer Outreach and Needs Assessment project MAPH recently announced that it received a $50,000
grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, for its
Newcomer Outreach and Needs Assessment (NONA)
project. This will be a 6‐month project in which
gatherings with newcomers in major towns across Perth
and Huron Counties will be held. This will give the
MAPH an opportunity to connect with newcomers in
both counties, determine the needs of newcomers,
improve procedures, and enhance referral networks.
This method of supporting newcomers will also serve as
a means to collect background information necessary to
procure stable funding for the organization.
Page 3
As an initial point of contact for newcomers, the
Multicultural Association acts as a referral agency to
provide connections to government and community
services and resources. The association actively
promotes inclusion and diversity in Perth‐Huron
through community events and education and aims to
reduce barriers to newcomer access to services and
resources. MAPH supports local economic
development organizations to attract newcomers and
retain them in the workforce by liaising with
employment agencies.
As a project of the United Way Perth‐Huron, the
Multicultural Association depends upon the goodwill
and support of volunteers, businesses and citizens
who share our goals and are interested in helping our
organization and its growing number of clients.
The MAPH helps to identify the needs of newcomers
and to connect them with the businesses, community
agencies, educational services, and government
services they require to successfully settle here. These
needs include:
• Employment
• Starting a business
• Finding housing or buying a house
• Banking
• Training, including English classes
• Finding transportation or getting a driver's
licence
• Family counselling
• Legal assistance
• Immigration/citizenship issues
• Financial planning
MAPH an initial point of contact
Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa and community supporters at an event in Stratford in 2014.
Connecting communities and social networksThe Multicultural Association also strives to help
newcomers be part of the wider local social network
that will help them integrate into their communities,
while sharing and celebrating their own unique
cultures.
The MAPH does this by organizing events such as
multicultural dinners, coffee nights, International
Women's Day celebrations, and cultural events such
as the community‐wide thanksgiving festival held in
Stratford last summer to recognize the religious
holiday of Eid Al‐Fitr.
“… The thanksgiving festival is a religious holiday
observed by Muslims worldwide over three days at
the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of
fasting. Each day begins with prayer to Allah and is
celebrated with traditional food, music, and gifts
amongst family and friends.
But the local event on Aug. 30, organized by the
Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron and held
outside the Falstaff Family Centre from afternoon
until evening, wasn't only about practicing those
traditions. Guests enjoyed food and music from
around the world prepared and performed by area
residents of contrasting ethnicities who, for various
reasons, have all settled in Canada.
The purpose of the day, noted Multicultural
Association leader Gezahgn Wordofa, was to bring
together people of all faiths to celebrate and give
thanks, both for their differences and all that they
have in common.” – From the article written by Jeff
Heuchert, Editor, the Stratford Gazette, September 2,
2014. To read more of this article, visit:
http://www.southwesternontario.ca/news/local‐
muslims‐share‐in‐their‐thanksgiving/.
For more information contact: Rebecca Rathwell, Project Manager
519‐524‐8394, ext. 3, [email protected],
Volunteers are always welcome
The Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron is always
on the lookout for new volunteers and welcomes those
who would like to:
Connect with individual newcomers
Connect with newcomer groups
Engage newcomers for interviews and focus
groups for the Newcomer Outreach and Needs
Assessment project
Invite newcomers to multicultural events
Upcoming MAPH 2015 events February 16: Burger Night
February 19: Chinese New Year
March 8: International Women's Day
For more information about these events, the MAPH, or
to volunteer, contact the Multicultural Association of
Perth‐Huron:
Phone: 519.271.7730 Ext 232
Email: [email protected] or
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/perthhuron.multicultural
MAPH steering committee
AcknowledgementsMake Huron Home gratefully acknowledges the
assistance of the following individuals and
organizations in providing information and materials for
this edition of the Make Huron Home newsletter:
Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, MAPH founder and
community liaison facilitator
Mark Hertzberger, MAPH project manager
The Multicultural Association of Perth‐Huron
The United Way Perth‐Huron
Jeff Heuchert, Editor, the Stratford Gazette
Photographs and content are reprinted here with the
kind permission of the MAPH, the United Way Perth‐
Huron, and of the Stratford Gazette.
The MAPH is governed by a steering committee whose
members volunteer their time and energy to coordinate
and develop the MAPH as it evolves toward graduation
as a project from United Way. Duties of the membership
include:
• Assist in developing, approving, and monitoring
a work plan for the MAPH.
• Assist in developing, approving, and monitoring
a budget for the MAPH.
• Commission and evaluate research and reports
for the MAPH.
• Contribute suggestions, ideas, expertise and
advice regarding fundraising, promotion
and service delivery.
• Identify potential partnerships and funding
sources to enhance the work of the
Committee.
• Provide guidance to MAPH volunteers and/ or
paid staff members
• Discuss issues and promote the MAPH within
their communities of interest and with the
community as a whole.
Steering committee members include:
• Nishchint Bajaj
• Ryan Erb
• Mark Hertzberger
• Deb Hotchkiss
• Erin Jones
• Maurice Koetsier
• Julia Merritt
• Joan van der Meer
• Don Van Galen
The MAPH now has three part‐time staff members as
well: Project Manager Mark Hertzberger, and two
Program Administrators, Nina Javet and Yao Li.