Project Type: Public Legal Education (Presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.)
Fields of Law: Immigration Law
Positions Available: 2 students
About AWO
AWO works with refugees and immigrants, particularly those who have experienced wars and persecution, with a special focus on women and their families. Its mission is to improve their quality of life and to promote their social and economic inclusion in order to enable them to become contributing members of society and to live in dignity.
Project Details
For over 30 years, the Afghan Women’s Organization Refugee and Immigrant Services (AWO) has provided multiple services, including settlement services to all newcomers, with a special focus on women, their families, refugees and people who have experienced war and persecution. The AWO has welcomed newcomers from around the world, including Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, assisting them in the first stages of their settlement process. These first steps taken by newcomers, finding a home, work, learning English, and finding out about Canada’s legal system and health care are all crucial to ensuring that each newcomer has a foundation for building a healthy life in Canada. The AWO also has a private sponsorship of refugee program under which we have sponsored and brought over 5,000 refugees since the inception of the program and have provided emotional support, settlement services and ensured that their financial and non-financial needs have been met. In addition to settlement services that the AWO provides to clients in Canada, the AWO also advocates for the rights of refugees and has been advocating for the human rights Afghan women and girls.
The AWO has conducted a needs assessment to identify and address knowledge gaps related to various legal fields for newcomers. The current priority need is in the area of immigration law. The AWO is seeking students to help create and provide legal education in the form of presentations, workshops, webinars, recorded videos, social media/blog posts and plain language resources.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
Students will conduct legal research on assigned areas of law to create legal education tools (i.e. videos, presentations, pamphlets, etc.) on immigration law topics such as the different sponsorship processes (e.g. family class, business class, etc.), and other topics as they arise.
Students may have the opportunity to present this information virtually being accompanied by the lawyer supervisor. If the lawyer supervisor is unable to attend, students will take notes of any questions and send them to the Lawyer Supervisor to be answered.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
No.
What Type Of Training Will the Organization Provide?
Note: All first year PBSC volunteers and all volunteers working on research projects must also attend a PBSC/Thomson Reuters legal research strategies workshop.
General orientation to AWO over the phone and on-demand training for delivering PLE’s.
How Many Hours Per Week Will the Student Volunteer(s) Be Expected to Volunteer?
3-5 hours per week.
Will The Student(s) Be Expected To Show Up For Regular Shifts Each Week?
Flexible, however specific dates of presentation may require coordination.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
No.
Requirements and Expectations
Preference for students who have completed Immigration Law, however, that is not a requirement for this project. Community volunteer experience is also considered an asset for this project.