About this Project
Operation #Not Forgotten (ONF) is an initiative run by MOSAIC with the goal of shining a light on refugees often forgotten and underrepresented in media coverage across the world.
This project offers an alternative pathway and durable solution for resettlement in Canada via MOSAIC’s Private Refugee Sponsorship Program.
Click here to listen to Saleem Spindari, former Senior Manager of Refugees and Migrant Worker Programs, speak to the Along the Way podcast about ONF and the work MOSAIC does to resettle individuals through Canada’s private sponsorship program.
Current Focus
The catalyst and current focus of the ONF project are the forgotten refugees that have been indefinitely detained on Manus (Papua New Guinea) and Nauru Islands.
Since September 2013, the Australian Government has been sending people seeking asylum to offshore facilities in Nauru and Papua New Guinea under a policy called “Offshore Processing”.
Operation #NotForgotten
Operation #NotForgotten aims to provide safe resettlement via Canada Private Refugee sponsorship program for hundreds of desperate refugees that are effected by Australia’s Offshore Processing policy and have been detained on Papua New Guinea and Nauru Island since 2013. We want to demonstrate to them – and to the world – that they are NOT forgotten, that they deserve a future.
The Australian Offshore processing Policy ensured that no person who arrived in the country by boat seeking asylum could ever settle in Australia. Instead, anyone who arrived by boat is forcibly taken to offshore “Refugee Processing Centres”, such as the ones located on the remote Pacific islands of Nauru and Manus (Papua New Guinea). The government claims that the policy protects people who might otherwise undertake the hazardous boat crossing to Australia. However, since its inception, offshore processing has been designed to be a punitive measure and has been widely promoted by successive Australian governments as a deterrent and a way of securing Australia’s borders.
For several years, people sent to Manus Island (Papua New Guinea) and Nauru were held in detention facilities described by Amnesty International and others as “open air” prisons and concentration camps. Officially, the detention centres are closed but many of the refugees and asylum seekers remain in camp arrangements with restrictions on movement and little capacity to get on with their lives. Many are dealing with mental health issues due to their lengthy incarceration and their lack of hope for the future. Many have been medical evacuated to Australia for treatment, however have received very little in treatment or assistance and are in detention facilities in legal limbo.
For more information listen to The Guardian’s podcast episode on Australia’s asylum seeker policies, including the controversial practice of offshore processing and resettlement.
The refugees are from many countries including Iran, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iraq. Some of them are stateless. They fled war, violence and political and ethnic persecution in their home countries.
Private Refugee Sponsorship to Canada can make a difference
Canada has the largest, longest established and most flexible private sponsorship program for refugees, allowing citizens and community groups to come together and sponsor refugees they nominate as needing resettlement. MOSAIC is a Sponsorship Agreement holder with the Canadian Government and receives a set number of Sponsorship spots per year. MOSAIC is dedicating currently all its sponsorship spots to the ONF project.
The Refugees are assisted upon their arrival in Canada, by MOSAIC, volunteers and supporters.
Refugees will have access to MOSAIC’s extensive settlement support programs and services as well as Refugees are assigned a support team to assist them as the settle into their new communities. Settlement support includes completing applications to get required documents, such as a Social Insurance Number, access medical services, and educational opportunities and assist them with finding employment, accommodation, and much, much more.
- The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has been providing support, guidance and assistance to MOSAIC by highlighting the project and its objective as well as providing considerable fundraising support. By far, the bulk of donations for the project have come from Australians.
- Volunteer teams across Australia are assisting refugees and MOSAIC with the completion of application forms and the gathering of relevant documentation.
- UNHCR in Australia is working in close coordination with MOSAIC. This unique collaboration has made it possible to focus our efforts where it is most effective; ensuring that efforts are not duplicated and making the project as effective as possible.
- Ads-Up Canada Refugee Network is a non-profit made up of Australian expats and Canadians who have been working to sponsor Manus and Nauru refugees through the Private Sponsorship of Refugee program since before the launch of Operation #Not Forgotten. Ads-Up Canada is working in partnership with MOSAIC (since January 2020), bringing together the strength and capacity of an established national SAH and a grassroots advocacy organization with an established reputation for working with Manus and Nauru refugees in Australia, the USA and Canada. The Ads Up Canada Refugee Network continues to independently fundraise, write applications and recruit and train resettlement support teams for Manus and Nauru refugees. MOSAIC provides support and assistance to Ads Up through its SAH agreement, submitting applications, holding and dispersing funding to refugees, and providing supervision and training for sponsoring groups.
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Laurie Cooper of Canada Caring Society was the early driving force behind Operation #NotForgotten and instrumental in getting it off the ground. In August 2019 Laurie approached MOSAIC with the Idea and concept for Operation #NotForgotten and a partnership was formed. Laurie and Canada Caring stepped away from the project the end of January 2020 and MOSAIC took on the leadership role. Canada Caring is a registered non-profit society which has been offering support to refugees in Canada and overseas since 2016. Canada Caring Society is also been involved in many private and community sponsorships. In October 2020 in recognition of her continuing work Laurie Cooper was awarded the MOSAIC Human Rights Award.
We estimate that a minimum of CAD$4,000,000 will be needed to support the project. As of October 2020, we have been able to reach the half point mark with nearly CAD$2,000,000. These funds are held in trust and used to support refugees and their family members during their first year of their arrival in Canada.
When filling out the donation form, select Operation Not Forgotten from the “I want to support*” drop-down list.
For donations in Australia, visit: Refugee Council Of Australia
Volunteering with Operation #Not Forgotten
Volunteer teams are being formed across Canada to provide settlement support to sponsored refugees and their families upon their arrival in Canada. Teams are coordinated and trained by MOSAIC to assist new arrivals to settle successfully in Canada.
To become a volunteer with Operation #NotForgotten contact: onf@mosaicbc.org
For question regarding your particular Case, please email: onf@mosaicbc.org
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