This is a joint project between Osgoode Hall & Lincoln Alexander School of Law.
Name of Organization: Afghan Women’s Organization – Refugee Claims Process
Website of Organization: www.afghanwomen.org
Organization’s Mandate: AWO works with refugees and immigrants, particularly those who have experienced wars
and persecution, with a special focus on women and their families. Its mission is to improve
their quality of life and to promote their social and economic inclusion in order to enable them to become contributing members of society and to live in dignity.
Project Name: Refugee Claims Process
Project Type: Public Legal Education (presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.)
Project Delivery: Remote
Description of Project: For over 30 years, the Afghan Women’s Organization Refugee and Immigrant Services (AWO) has provided multiple services, including settlement services to all newcomers, with a special focus on women, their families, refugees and people who have experienced war and persecution. The AWO has welcomed newcomers from around the world, including Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, assisting them in the first stages of their settlement process. These first steps taken by newcomers, finding a home, work, learning English, and finding out about Canada’s legal system and health care are all crucial to ensuring that each newcomer has a foundation for building a healthy life in Canada.
The AWO also has a private sponsorship of refugee program under which we have sponsored and brought over 5,000 refugees since the inception of the program and have provided emotional support, settlement services and ensured that their financial and non-financial needs have been met. In addition to settlement services that the AWO provides to clients in Canada, the AWO also advocates for the rights of refugees and has been advocating for the human rights Afghan women and girls.
The AWO has conducted a needs assessment to identify and address knowledge gaps related to various legal fields for newcomers. The current priority need is in the area of immigration law. The AWO is seeking students to help create and provide legal education in the form of presentations, workshops, webinars, recorded videos, social media/blog posts and plain language resources.
Role of Student Volunteers: This project involves researching Canada’s refugee claim process, which allows individuals fleeing persecution, war, or violence to seek asylum in Canada. Students will research eligibility criteria, application requirements, and the procedural steps involved in making a refugee claim. This includes understanding the necessary documentation, the stages of the process such as initial claims (including the differences in claims being made at a port of entry vs inland claims), interviews, hearings, decisions, and appeals and the typical timeline for processing claims. Additionally, students will explore the common challenges claimants face and the resources available to support them.
Role of Supervising Lawyer(s): The Supervising Lawyer will oversee the materials submitted by the student and will guide if questions arise. The Supervising Lawyer will also attend all PLE sessions delivered by students to answer questions. All legal research and legal education tools created will be reviewed by the lawyer supervisor prior to dissemination to community members.
Type of Law: Immigration Law
Main Project Deliverable: Creating produced content (e.g. research memos, brochures, podcasts, etc.)
Number of Student Placements: 1 student.
Hours per week the student volunteer(s) will be expected to work: 3-5 hours/week
Regular shifts or a flexible schedule: Flexible
Is there a workspace provided for the student at the Organization: If students would like to come into the office they are welcome to
Devices and technologies the students will be required to have: Computer, Internet access, telephone, Zoom
Is there an expectation for the student(s) to be bilingual: No, however bilingualism is an asset
Law School Pre-Requisites: Preference for immigration law, but not a requirement.
Other Requirements or Expectations: Previous experience with community volunteer work is an asset but not a requirement.