There are many agencies that help refugees in Manitoba. They can help you if you need:

• housing
• employment
• health
• language training
• counselling and other services

All their programs are free.

Family Dynamics

Family Dynamics connects refugee families to support services. They can help you adjust to life in Canada. Watch this video to know more about Family Dynamics:

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc. (IRCOM)

IRCOM can help you with transitional housing. It also has other services like:

• Child Care Program – participants of IRCOM’s programs may avail of childminding services.
• After School Program for children and the youth – accepts children ages 6-12 and youth under 21 if still in school. You need to register.
• Community Resource Program – you can go to IRCOM’s drop-in office at 95 Ellen St. or 215 Isabel St. They can refer you to employment, education, and health resources.
• Newcomer Literacy Initiative – offers English language training. You have to be referred by WELARC.

Go to the IRCOM website for more services. If you are applying for transitional housing, go to the Process/Criteria page.

NEEDS Centre in Winnipeg

It offers services from English language training to psycho-social support. Some services include:

• Introduction to Canadian Education – for refugee youth aged 6-17 who are awaiting placement in Canadian schools. They provide:

• English skills development
• recreational activities
• computer skills training
• psycho-social support
• Youth After-School Programs – help refugee and immigrant youth aged 12-17. It includes supports like:

• Homework Club
• computer programs
• crisis intervention
• psycho-social support
• Youth Employment Program – for refugee and immigrant youth (grades 10-12) who need employability skills. This training exposes them to:

• career opportunities
• Canadian workplace education
• workplace experience
• mentorship
• psycho-social support

MOSAIC Newcomer Family Resource Network

MOSAIC has programs that teach parenting in Canada. They also offer English classes. Most programs have childminding. This way parents can focus on the workshops while their children are taken care of. Some programs include:

• Positive Discipline Program – for newcomer parents. They have classes in Arabic.
• Parent Child Mother Goose Program – parents read stories and rhymes with their child.
• Nobody’s Perfect – newcomer parents share experiences about being a parent in Canada. This also helps newcomers practice English conversation skills.
• Arabic/English Workshops for newcomers – newcomers learn about settling in Canada.
• LINC program– this is a part-time English training course.

Immigrant Centre

It has many services for newcomers. An Intake Officer can connect you to programs that you need. It also has Access English Centre for conversation circles. Learners of all levels talk about topics of interest to adult newcomers.

EDGE Skills Centre

It offers EDGE EAL. It is an English Language instruction program for Canadian Language Benchmarks 1-7. Classes are from Monday to Friday in the mornings or afternoons. They have child care (ages 19 months to four years) for newcomer parent learners. You will need a WELARC referral.

English Online

You can learn online if you are busy. English Online’s Live and Learn program shares information for living in Manitoba. It also helps you practice your English skills. Refugees can read settlement articles and other resources. These can be translated into Arabic or other languages by using Google Translate or Bing.

The Life & Employability Enhancement Program (LEEP)

This is a 21-week pre-employment training program. It is for newcomer war-affected youth aged 15-30. They will learn:

• workplace expectations
• Canadian culture
• communication
• conflict resolution
• computer skills

Participants will be given work experience. A placement program will match their skill level, experience and employment goals. Call 204-415-2232 for more information. You can also email resourcespecialist.bmfrc@shaw.ca. LEEP is at 51 Morrow Avenue, Winnipeg.