Our Programs in Canada

Immigrants Welcome Program

PRS is committed to providing settlement services that facilitate immigrants and refugees to become self-sufficient, with the goal to partake fully in the social and economic features of Canadian Society. Our settlement workers normally speak the same language as the African immigrants, thus they are able to provide settlement services in English and various African languages as necessary. These services include the initial reception, cultural orientation awareness and the location of an apartment or house for the newcomers in the Metro Vancouver area. Our settlement workers are committed to assisting newcomers to Canada by providing them in-depth information about Canadian culture and life. Moreover, PRS is working in partnership with other settlement agencies to make services more accessible for African immigrants in the Metro Vancouver area.

Immigrant Transition House

Due to the housing crisis in the Metro Vancouver area, there is a huge gap between the cost of housing and the funds immigrants have obtained for their basic needs. To assist in bridging this gap, PRS is planning to lease a house for immigrant individuals and families who have recently arrived in the Metro Vancouver area. PRS is seeking support financially to help resettle immigrants in New Westminster and Burnaby. Counseling support is available to newcomers due to the trauma they have experienced in the refugee camps and the challenges they face in integrating into their new communities.

Immigrant Counseling Program:

African immigrants and refugees with their families in the Lower Mainland are facing innumerable challenges which have resulted in family break-ups and divorces. Our goal is to provide counseling services for African immigrant families who are experiencing domestic violence in their marriages, as well as other means through which family break-up and divorce can be averted. In addition, our devoted counselors are skilled in providing counseling services for African individuals, couples and families who are dealing with stress, grief and culture shock. Our counselors are committed to providing counseling in English, Arabic and a variety of African languages. To support this program, please contact us.

Immigrant Seniors Program:

This program is to provide African immigrant seniors and their families with culturally appropriate information and referrals to local resources in accessing Seniors Assistance Programs in the Metro Vancouver area. This service is designed to help immigrant seniors who are unable to access services on their own and have no support system to assist them. The ultimate goal is for the individual to become more independent and to ensure that he or she has the tools necessary to become self-sufficient.

Citizenship Classes Program

Prior to becoming a Canadian citizen, immigrants are given a booklet prepared by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to read before taking the Citizenship exams. Immigrants are required to pass the Citizenship exams in order to obtain their Canadian citizenship. In response to the growing need for citizenship classes, PRS has initiated this citizenship class program for immigrants to become Canadian citizens and be part of Canadian society. Our volunteers are committed to teaching citizenship classes and to helping immigrants to fill out their citizenship application forms. This program allows the immigrants to become familiar with questions from the standard Citizenship Tests.

Christmas Hampers Program

During Christmas time in December each year, Padang Relief Society coordinates the Christmas hampers program so our neediest immigrant and refugee families can receive gifts of household items, clothing and food. Families let us know what their greatest needs are and we find individual donors, churches or businesses who are willing to provide assistance to the needy of our community. Gift certificates are also very much appreciated. Your Christmas Hamper donation will be picked up by the families in need or delivered to them. The goal of this program is to meet the needs of poor immigrant families in the Metro Vancouver area. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact us.