Sandra Dunham
If ever there was a time for humanists to come together it is now. Looking at the crisis in Afghanistan, one can hardly help but imagine the horror of facing persecution for simply not believing in a supernatural entity. We know that many of our fellow humanists are in grave danger in Afghanistan. For those who have “escaped” Afghanistan, the situation remains dire. They may be refugees, living in in temporary situations outside of Afghanistan, struggling to support themselves and their families. Even for the fortunate Afghan nationals who are already in Canada, the path to their new normal will be long.
At CFIC we continually hear from members who want more information and who want to help. The Government of Canada’s website provides information as it unfolds. If you would like to help, another government website offers some direction. If you are interested in volunteering or donating locally, you can find places that help to settle newcomers to Canada here.
CFIC is working with many other Canadian humanist and atheist organizations to do as much as we can. This amalgamation is exploring the best way of helping not just people in Afghanistan, but also people who have escaped and are seeking more permanent living arrangements, as well as those already in Canada. We are looking at ways to work politically and ways to work directly with individuals. In the coming days, look for an update on our website that provides some directions to Afghan nationals looking for refuge.
CFIC is also planning a workshop for people who would like more information about how to sponsor refugees to come to Canada. Many of our members will recall that a group of five from the Atheist Society of Calgary are the sponsors of “Omer,” the apostate refugee our membership is supporting while he waits to come to Canada. They have agreed to be a part of our workshop. We are awaiting a response from the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program to set a date. Once that date is set, we encourage you to share the information widely.
The situation is complicated and, when taken as whole, unmanageable. But together we can and must make a difference. Whether we help just one person or we help to change policy to help thousands, we can each do a little to create change. Here are CFIC’s suggestions.
1. Become educated. The Humanist International website is a good place to start.
2. Take part in international efforts to end persecution of religious minorities and atheist ones.
3. Look for opportunities to advocate for a more secular government right here in Canada.
4. Closer to home, find a local immigration office and offer financial or volunteer support.
5. Attend CFIC’s workshop on sponsoring a refugee. Invite friends and family members to join you.
If you would like to be more involved in the CFIC work related to the situation in Afghanistan, please be in touch here. Let us know how you can help.