Canadians value lifting each other up — including refugees. As a refugee sponsor, you’re part of the local solution to the global refugee crisis. You’ll be the first point of contact for finding mental health services, employment and other newcomer-specific resources.

Our friends at the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) equip sponsors with the tools and confidence they need to manage their time, group roles, and responsibilities.

Michelle Ndizeye is an Ottawa-based trainer with RSTP. She describes herself as “the person holding your hand from the beginning to the end of the sponsorship period.” 

RSTP trainers are the focal point for sponsorship-related questions. Michelle fields inquiries from sponsors, does the appropriate research, schedules in-person or virtual meetings, and, when needed, refers sponsors to others who can help. Trainers also act as a liaison between Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the public.

“We provide training sessions on different topics,”Michelle says. “That could also include mental health, employment and bringing experts to some of those sessions because we're not experts in everything.” 

In addition, Michelle ensures any policy change IRCC makes reaches the public. There are important differences between the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) program and other refugee resettlement pathways — such as the cost-sharing component with the Federal Government. Michelle refers more technical questions to Paula Marshall, the BVOR-specific trainer at RSTP. 

“She provides additional information on what it looks like sponsoring someone from a specific country, how to prepare, and the different features of BVOR,” Michelle says.

Before coming to Ottawa in 2022, Michelle worked for RSTP in Vancouver. But that wasn’t her introduction to sponsorship, as Michelle and her family were once refugees. 

“It was a church that actually sponsored us,” says Michelle. Years later, after she graduated from University, Michelle became a settlement counselor. “Right after that is when I joined RSTP,” she says.

As luck would have it, Michelle’s new job brought her a connection to the sponsorship group which welcomed her family. 

“It was kind of funny, actually — when I was first introduced in BC as part of the RSTP team, [an experienced sponsor] in Vancouver reached out and said, ‘Oh, hey, I remember I was part of the group that sponsored you,’ ” she recalls. 

Michelle says her own experience adds to the quality of care she provides to sponsors.

“I'm able to bring my own personal experience into it when I'm assisting sponsors. Sometimes it’s a bit tough when you just go off of the book.”

To the people who are on the fence about becoming a refugee sponsor, or even against refugee welcome, Michelle says it’s important to remember “refugees do not choose to be displaced.” Being in a position to lend a helping hand is a privilege, and if you are part of a sponsorship group, there are multiple ways you can help.

“It doesn’t have to be monetary. It can just be providing emotional or mental support, providing donations. That’s the one aspect people get confused — ‘I don’t have money so I can’t sponsor someone.’ ” 

Refugee sponsors need somewhere to turn for guidance. RSTP is here to help. Their qualified trainers will help you every step of the way — from filling out your sponsorship application, creating a budget, to finding settlement resources for newcomers.

Don’t wait! Register for the next webinar: https://www.rstp.ca/en/events/