How can I help Afghan Refugees arriving in Canada?

Following the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Government of Canada committed to welcoming up to 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada through different programs. As of November 2024, over 55,000 Afghans have arrived.

If you’re a Canadian citizen or resident, you can support Afghan refugees in different ways.

Ways to Support Afghan Refugees in Ontario

There are many ways to help Afghan refugees as they settle in Canada.

• Donate essential items – Many Afghan families need clothing, furniture, and children's items. Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) service providers can help you donate these essentials.
• Volunteer your time – Get involved in building welcoming communities for Afghan refugees. Local RAP service providers can connect you with opportunities to assist newcomers in finding housing, learning English or French, enrolling children in school, and becoming part of the community.
• Use your language skills -  If you speak Dari or Pashto, your local settlement agency can guide you on ways to help Afghan refugees in your area.

Find a Service Provider Organization

For information on how to find settlement services, consult this article from Welcome Ontario: How can I find settlement services?

You can also reach out to Afghan organizations in Ontario for assistance:

• Lifeline Afghanistan
• Afghan Association of Ontario (AAO)
• Afghan Women's Organization (AWO)
• Afghan Canadian Islamic Community
• Afghan Network For Social Services (ANSS Foundation)
• Afghan Church Toronto
• Hazara Women Organization

These organizations provide support and resources to help Afghan newcomers settle.

Resources in Pashto and Dari

• Settlement.Org provides a range of resources (including health, housing, employment, education, and much more) in Pashto and Dari. Most of them are in PDF format. Click on the language name to download the document in that language.
• Refugee 613 Information for Life in Canada is a national Telegram group that shares important updates about life in Canada, events, opportunities, and settlement services—in Dari and Pashto.

Resettlement Programs

You can also help by sponsoring Afghan refugees to come to Canada. Sponsorship options include:

• working with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) as a Constituent Group
• sponsoring as a Group of Five

As a Constituent Group or a Group of Five, you can sponsor:

• A specific individual refugee or refugee family
• A refugee referred by a visa office abroad