The Canadian Red Cross responds to thousands of calls for help every year and most of the people who respond are volunteers, some of whom are newcomers to Canada. These trained volunteers are ready and willing to assist people affected by a disaster whether it's in the middle of the night or as a result of a weather-related emergency.
In the region of Peel in Ontario, more than half of disaster management volunteers are recent immigrants. These volunteers bring a diverse range of experience and skills to the disaster management team. Two of them are being featured on a Rogers television show called ‘I care, I volunteer’ this month.
Yazeed and Basil both came to Canada from the Middle East. Yazeed settled here in 2013 and Basil arrived in 2011. They both knew about the Red Cross before applying to volunteer with the disaster management program in Peel Region. In fact, Basil had been a volunteer in Syria and coordinated three Red Cross branches in the northern part of the country.
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Their interview on Rogers television will be aired in Mississauga and Brampton (cable channel 10) on January 22 at 10 p.m., January 23 at 4 a.m., 10 a.m., and 4 p.m., and January 24 at 4:30 p.m. It will also air in Caledon (cable channel 63) on January 23 at 4 p.m. and January 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Want to join Yazeed and Basil as a volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross? Check out www.redcross.ca/volunteer for more information.
In the region of Peel in Ontario, more than half of disaster management volunteers are recent immigrants. These volunteers bring a diverse range of experience and skills to the disaster management team. Two of them are being featured on a Rogers television show called ‘I care, I volunteer’ this month.
Yazeed and Basil both came to Canada from the Middle East. Yazeed settled here in 2013 and Basil arrived in 2011. They both knew about the Red Cross before applying to volunteer with the disaster management program in Peel Region. In fact, Basil had been a volunteer in Syria and coordinated three Red Cross branches in the northern part of the country.
Host Jackie Vieira with volunteers Basil, Yazeed and Canadian Red Cross disaster management coordinator, Sarah on set at Rogers.
Initially, their reasons for volunteering were quite different. Yazeed was looking for something to do in his free time and Basil was looking to continue his volunteer work with the Red Cross and draw upon his ten years of experience. Together, they have assisted in large and small scale disasters and these shared experiences have melded their reasons for volunteering. Both now agree that the opportunity to join the disaster management team has given them the chance to apply their experiences and skills to helping Canadians when they are most vulnerable.Their interview on Rogers television will be aired in Mississauga and Brampton (cable channel 10) on January 22 at 10 p.m., January 23 at 4 a.m., 10 a.m., and 4 p.m., and January 24 at 4:30 p.m. It will also air in Caledon (cable channel 63) on January 23 at 4 p.m. and January 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Want to join Yazeed and Basil as a volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross? Check out www.redcross.ca/volunteer for more information.
