Here’s how we're supporting migrant workers this farming season
“Imagine arriving to a foreign country with nothing but a bag of clothes and $50 to your name.”
Lifeline Care Packages
One simple yet effective act of solidarity we provide to migrant workers every year is the distribution of Lifeline Care Packages. These care packages provide workers with food items, toiletries and other necessities to support them during their stay here in Canada. It’s small but important act of solidarity as we welcome newcomers to our community.
During these precarious times, we’re also including items like masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies — essential items to protect oneself during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the last 48 years, Horizons of Friendship has been travelling to Central America and Mexico for various projects and initiatives. When we visit countries like Honduras, Guatemala, or Mexico, our southern neighbours are quick greet us with tea, coffee, and a hot meal. This is our way of returning the favour.
Vaccines and Hesitancy
Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing severe illness and death as a result of COVID-19 infections. For this reason, we encourage everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated to consult with their primary care physician about the COVID-19 vaccine. To further this effort, we are prepared to help migrant workers access vaccines by booking appointments, providing translation as needed, and providing key information from the Government of Canada on the COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine hesitancy is statistically significant in Canada, especially as the anti-vax movement continues to gain traction in Canada. Just like Canadians, there are migrant workers who are hesitant to get the vaccine, often due to myths around how fast the vaccine was produced, or reports of deaths caused by rare blood clots caused by certain vaccines produced by specific manufacturers.
Horizons of Friendship can’t force anyone to get vaccinated. But we can encourage folks to read and learn more about this important medical intervention, give information to break myths about vaccines, and provide logistical support to workers who can’t book a vaccination appointment for themselves. We’re ready to help.
Supporting the health and legal status of migrant workers
Every year, Horizons relies on community partners to provide their expertise and services to migrant workers in Northumberland County. For the last eight years, the Community Health Centres of Northumberland have played a crucial role in providing free and confidential health services for migrant workers across Northumberland County. Similarly, the Northumberland Community Legal Centre continues to play a frontline role in providing essential legal services to migrant workers during their stay here in Northumberland. We are grateful for our community partners who, despite all the challenges a pandemic provides, continue to advocate for the health and legal rights of migrant workers.
As an organization, Horizons will continue to play a coordinating role in these partnerships, referring migrant workers to these community services, providing translation as needed along the way, and working to expand relevant, accessible services to migrant workers that respect their needs and privacy.
Through 2021 and beyond, we are here to help our migrant workers in our community.
This image is from 2018. All health and legal sessions are now done virtually.