Vaughan Muslim organizations offer Syrian refugees free dental screening, job workshops

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 7, 2016
Ali Raza  

Thousands of Syrian refugees are starting life from scratch in a new country with a new language here in Canada, but they’re not alone.

Several Canadian organizations, families and individuals have given their time and effort to help new Canadian families adjust from a life of war to a life of peace.

The North American Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Community Organization (NASIMCO) and the Jaffari Community Centre (JCC) in Vaughan are two organizations actively helping new government-sponsored Syrian families adjust to the massive change.

In a third collaborative effort this year to help Syrian refugees, NASIMCO and JCC hosted a free dental screening and informative workshop session for hundreds of Syrian refugees in the York Region and Toronto area Aug. 7.

“We have over 200 new Syrian-Canadians here today,” said JCC assistant treasure Azim Panju. “We’ve got just under 100 volunteers including 15 dentists, dental hygienists and community members, English-speakers and Arabic translators as well.”

Previous efforts from NASIMCO and JCC included organizing and delivering hygiene kits to families awaiting permanent housing, preparing backpacks for 300 children going to school and delivering donated household items to families upon settlement.

Sunday’s workshops and screenings continued that helpful momentum in which the whole community is involved. New residents expressed their gratitude with English they’ve quickly learned.

“I feel comfortable; it’s good,” said Salaheddin Bawadjki. "I’m happy to be here."

“The people in Canada are very nice,” said Majda Boushi. “People helped so much; the volunteers are very good to help us. I like it.”

NASIMCO has 13 Canadian and 13 American member communities, and expands into regional and global chapters. The Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Toronto (which JCC is part of) is a member community representing the Greater Toronto Area.

By working with local agencies, including COSTI Immigrant Services, NASIMCO contacted various families for the screening.

“They were overwhelmed with the numbers and were very happy to receive support from organizations like ours,” said NASIMCO vice-president Sukaina Sumar-Ebrahim. “We took the lead from them and said we’re here to help in whatever capacity we can.”

Dental screenings ranged from teaching brushing and flossing methods to helping patients identify signs of oral health problems. Additional help was given to families to find a nearby dentist and create a health record.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Zain Manji was on site with a team of volunteers.

“Everybody was really on board, glad to help and do more than I asked them to do,” Manji said. “All the volunteers have been really happy and excited to be part of this event today. People want to give back; they want to help.”

JCC has participated in other projects in York Region and Toronto as well, including Out of the Cold, an initiative in collaboration with 12 inter-faith communities including Temple Har Zion, Thornhill United Church, Rouge Valley Mennonite Church, St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Toronto Chinese Community Church, Vaughan Community Church, St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Bridge Markham Community Church and Ahmadiyya Islamic Community.

Out of the Cold offers safe refuge, hospitality and emergency shelter to homeless people or others in need of food and clothing. Overnight shelters operated seven nights a week from November 2015 to March 2016 at different host sites.

The recent initiative from NASIMCO and JCC provides the organizations a chance to help those in need yet again.

“It’s important for NASIMCO,” Sumar-Ebrahim said. “It’s an opportunity for us to welcome the Syrian newcomers and do our part in supporting the government initiative.”

Willowdale MP Ali Ehsassi and King-Vaughan MP Deb Schulte both paid a visit to JCC to give thanks for the organizations’ work in helping Syrian refugees.

“This tells me exactly what Canada is all about,” Schulte said. “Bringing the resources we have to help everybody feel part of our country, feel welcome in our country.”

“I’m really proud of this mosque," she said. "The fundamental in their religion is giving back to the community and being good community stewards, and they are showing it in spades."