Refugees

Refugee Sponsorship Program

Orlando Vasquez- Refugee Sponsorship Coordinator (Edmonton & Area)

Mugasa Atteenyi - Refugee Sponsorship Coordinator (Calgary & Area)

"Between 1922-47, many Mennonite refugees were sponsored to come to Canada by the Mennonite Churches. From 1923-26, 20,000 Mennonites from Russia came to Canada and were given refuge by the established Mennonite groups. Furthermore, between 1945 and 1947 after the WW11, many Russian and Polish Mennonites arrived in Canada. It was again the Mennonites in Canada who reached out to help resettle their fellow Mennonites. As a response to God’s call, in 1978-79, Mennonite Churches sponsored many refugees -called "the Boat People" by some- from South East Asia.

This compassionate response to need is an important part of what it means to be Chistian, and the reason MCC exists. As such, Orlando and I are requesting you to open your hearts to the suffering Palestinians. We are asking you to help sponsor five Palestinian families in Alberta. Resettlement to Canada of Palestinians offers the only viable solution. With conditions deteriorating in the camps, the UNHCR has issued an urgent appeal to help resettle Palestinian refugees. For more details, please contact us."

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent appeal for the resettlement of Palestinian refugees. For details & sponsorship inquiries, please call Mugasa or Orlando. You can also read more about Palestinian refugees on the UNHCR website.

UNHCR Website

Refugee Sponsorship

A new comer in Canada called our office to say thanks. “I cannot believe I am safe and free. Although we still remember what happened to us, we feel safer. Now I can concentrate on taking care of my family. My brother,” he said, “leaving your country is not a choice. Some of us had establishments and people were depending on us. The feeling of being forced out of your country is like what the lion feels when it’s told to become vegetarian. Since I came to Canada,” he continued, “many people have offered to help my family. Among those who came to help us was a police officer. When my older son saw the police officer he was scared and hid himself under the bed. I talked to the police officer and after changing into civilian clothes, we all sat down with my family to hear our story. To make a long story short, I called to thank you for your extraordinary work”. He ended with, God bless you.

What We Do (MCC Alberta Programs)

Programs

Aboriginal Neighbours

Seeks to build bridges with Aboriginal communities and Mennonite churches in Alberta

Go to Aboriginal Neighbours Program Page

Community Justice Ministries

This includes such programs M2/W2 Prison Visitation, Community Chaplaincy, Circles of Support and Accountability, LifeLine Alberta, and the Recreating Community in Edmonton

Go to CJM Program Page

Generations At Risk- HIV/AIDS Fundraising

MCC Albertas work focused on raising money for our international HIV/AIDS work. Includes concerts, fundraising CD's featuring Kim Thiessen, our Annual Glimmers of Hope fundraising event, and more.

Go to Generations at Risk (GAR) Program Page

Global Family

A sponsorship and education program. Make a dream come true

Go to Global Family Program Page

Health Services

MCC Alberta organises workshops, seminars and forums and provides resources on Mental Health and Disabilities, Fetal Alchohol Spectrum Disorder, Parish Nursing, as well as other DVD, video, and printed materials for groups or individuals

Go to Health Services Program Page

Low German Services

MCC Alberta works together with local churches and other agencies to help Low German speaking Mennonites who have imigrated to Alberta from Mexico, Ontario and Manitoba with employment, documentation, settlement assistance, and more

Go to Low German Services Program Page

Material Resources

With your help, we collect and send abroad things like health kits, school kits, quilts and blankets, AIDS care kits, relief kits, sewing kits and newborn kits

Go to Material Resources Program Page

Peace Program

Through events, workshops and retreats, the Peace Program works to provide a window through which Alberta people can engage in thinking, talking and living peacemaking

Go to Peace Program Page

Refugee Sponsorship

The Refugee Sponsorship Program matches churches, sunday school classes, Bible study groups, businesses & former refugee families with refugee applicants to form sponsorship groups

Go to Refugee Sponsorship Program Page