Afghan Resettlement Resources

The resource guide below was created by CCAP in response to the 2021 humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This guide is meant to provide the Afghan diaspora with resources to navigate the Canadian Afghan refugee resettlement process, connect with professionals that have offered their services in response to this crisis, learn about the humanitarian aid relief programs in place for Afghanistan, and link to other informational resources out there.


NameTitleOrganizationEmailPhone NumberNotes
ShebaYusufzaiOlympia Immigrationinfo@olympiaimmigration.ca647-325-2905Services provided include refugee and asylum applications, family sponsorship, economic immigration, temporary visas, PR and Citizenship, Caregiver applications, LMIA applications and inadmissibility issues
Nilofar AhmadiBarrister, Solicitor and Notary PublicNK Lawyerskahmadi@nklawyers.ca416 238 7147 Fax: 416-640-4789
Khesrau AhmadiBarrister, Solicitor and Notary PublicNK Lawyerskahmadi@nklawyers.ca417 238 7147 Fax: 416-640-4789
Warda Shazadi MeighenRefugee and Immigration lawyerLandings LLPwshazadimeighen@landingslaw.com416-363-1696 ext 104
Djwahid TaheriRefugee and Immigration lawyerTaheri Law Officeinfo@taherilaw.ca416-369-0706
Laheeb AkbarzadRefugee and Immigration lawyer, Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) claimsLaheeb Akbarzadlakbarzad@law-la.ca(647) 588-2759
Aasia Rahguzarrcicimmigrationrahguzar.immigration@gmail.com
MoshiriMoshiri Immigration Servicesinfo@moshiriconsulting.com647-677-5505
JennUniversity of Pittsburg Centre for Governance and Marketscgm@pitt.eduAssistance with US Visa/US immigration. They have a team processing requests and acting quickly
Westway Immigration Servicesinfo@westwayimmigration.com 437-772-7711
Golden BirdWahidkarimy2@gmail.com93700204054From Kabul. Free Service, Worked with USAF ISAF
Fasiha NabizadaTranslatorIndependent (worked for a company supporting newcomer Afghans) Farsi/Dari and Pashto;
Document and live translation
Fahim BaloutchTranslatorIndependentinfo@rlspros.ca416-882-4994Farsi/Dari
can understand and translate short documents in pashto
Fariha QasimiTranslatorIndependent fariha.qasimi@hotmail.com647-513-2987Farsi/Dari
Rahim AkbarzaiTranslatorIndependent rahim.akbarzai@gmail.com647-546-9350Farsi/Dari and Pashto
Can be contacted anytime
Miral SadatTranslator
Narges RezaieWoodGreen Community Servicesnrezaie@woodgreen.orgToronto
Malini SinghManager of Newcomer Services – TNOTNO647-242-3968Toronto
Miral SadatSettlement counsellor / TranslatorNewcomer Centre of Peelmsadat@ncpeel.ca1-888-306-0577 ext 724Peel Region/currently remote

Can translate for free
Smile Canadainfo@smilecan.org647-952-8135
Gulaly NawabiMental Health Support WorkerAfghan Women’s Organization Refugee & Immigrant Services gnawabi@afghanwomen.org416-588-3585 (Ext. 225)
Hamidullah AkbariCAMHakbari001@gmail.com647-879-1522
Naszrin ArghoshiArghoshi Psychotherapynaszrinarghoshimsw@gmail.com
Wajma OmerPrivate Practice/The Therapy Centre waj_omer@hotmail.com(647) 697-6579Free single session for Afghans 12+
Arooba SyedPrivate Practice/aroobatherapyaroobasyedmsw@gmail.com(437) 747-4648Free single session for Afghan folks 15 + in Ontario
Mona FakhryIndividualinsta: @mindfully_mona
Madina WardakMental Health Social Worker Individualinsta: burqasandbeer
Husna SafiClinical Social Worker/Therapist in TorontoPrivate Practice/Wellnest Psycotherapy Services (647) 493-0543
Shinkay KarimiMental Health Case ManagerCotaCota
Sumaya KarimiRegistered Social Worker in OntarioIndividualsumayakarimi@gmail.com
Geeti SiddiqiSocial WorkerIndividualgeetisiddiqi94@gmail.com(289) 400-9440
Yusra Baloch & Dyshni SritharanTherapist/Clinical Social WorkerWellness Care Counsellinginfo@wellnesscarecounselling.com647-689-5843Culturally responsive services with therapists of colour. Virtual sessions avaialble across Canada; free single session for Afghans in Ontario 16 +
Restoration Mental Health Agencyresotrationmentalhealthagency@gmail.comPsychotherapy; free single session for Afghans in Ontario 18+
Renee RaymondAlthea Therapy (App)Registered with IFHP for Refugee Mental Health and NIHB for Indigenous Mental Health.
Sara StanizaiProspect Therapycontact@prospecttherapy.com(562) 704-4736Afghan American / Afghan diaspora women’s support group. DM or follow @prospecttherapy for details. We are finishing up our current group and will start a new one shortly, free of charge, any location OK, run in English.
Sotoda Saifisotodasaifitherapyinfo@sotodasaifi.comFree Trauma Therapy for Afghan Refugees online: UK, USA, or anywhere else
Mindwell Therapy CollectiveBook a free consultation on the site, then a free single-session will be set up afterwards, 16+
Bereaved Families of Ontarioinfo@bfotoronto.ca416-440-0290Free one-to-one & group bereavement support, children, youth, young people and adults”
Colleen BoehmeRegistered social workerIndividualcolleenboehmemsw@gmail.comFree single session individual therapy, virtual, 18+
Chantée DardaineIndividualchantee@selfcareto.comFree virtual therapy. Supports clients with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, PTSD, trauma all from a cultural adaptive, trauma informed lens, 18+
Chilliwack Youth Health CentreFree counselling to Afghan diaspora youth in BC who have been affected by current events.

OrganizationNotes
Toronto Region Afghan Resettlement FundLaunched in partnership with the City of Toronto, United Way, and Lifeline Afghanistan.
Waterloo Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee InitiativesThe fund is a joint project between the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation, the Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation, and the Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region.
Calgary Afghan Refugee Resettlement InitiativeCCIS has been chosen as an Afghan refugee hub for Canada. As the designated port of entry, we anticipate that 5,000 Afghan refugees will arrive in Calgary within the next few months. An account specific to the Afghan refugees has been established. 100% of all monetary donations, will go directly towards assisting these newly arrived refugees. Official tax receipts will be issued on donation of $20.00.
IDRF Campaign
Veterans Transition Network Canada
Naan and KabobFor every $2 donated, NK will match $1 and the money will be donated to Ummah Nabawiah’s Children’s Charity (UNACC) and Children without Borders (CWB)
Ummah Nabawiah Children’s Charity
Children Without Borders
Islamic Relief Canada
Emergency Relief AfghanistanTeam in Afghanistan providing emergency aid, initiated by @khyberkhaan
Miles4MigrantsRecent Update: “Miles4Migrants has been closely following the devastating situation in Afghanistan. Over the past few weeks, we have been working expeditiously with our charity partners to help families escape the Taliban takeover of the Afghan government. Sadly, the takeover has increased at an alarming rate, and many – but not all – of the flights booked just days ago have already been cancelled. Miles4Migrants remains firmly committed to assisting our partners in getting Afghan families to safety. We stand ready to fulfill these flight requests as soon as we are able to do so”
Support Hospitals in Afghanistan: The Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO) is partnering with the Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC) and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS)
Emergency Funds for Afghan Artists
Support Afghan Women Activists Fleeing the Taliban“With a donation of $30, you can provide a woman human rights defender a safe haven and cover her basic needs for a day. For $210, you can support her for a week.We started this campaign to stand in solidarity with displaced women activists and their families and to help offset their cost of housing, including hotels and daily expenses.”
Artistic Freedom Intiative: Apply for Assistance (AMERICAN)Artistic Freedom Initiative is currently accepting applications from at-risk artists in the United States and around the world seeking temporary and permanent residence in the US. Additionally, for at-risk artists already located in the United States, AFI is accepting applications from artists who fear persecution in their home countries and are seeking asylum in the US.
Avizeh
Afghan-American Community Organization
The Afghan Collective

info@afghancollective.org

instagram: @afghancollective
“The Afghan Collective will be working to prepare care packages for Afghan refugees arriving in Canada. Many of these refugees will arrive with limited resources and will be in need of essentials (i.e., personal hygiene items, and baby products).

They are accepting monetary donations with 100% of the funds going towards the purchase of items. Please send your donations to: [info@afghancollective.org].

An update will be posted once the care packages are delivered.”
Care2give

instagram: @care2give_
Collecting donations for newly arrived refugees. (Toothbrushes, deodorant, hairbrushes, nail clippers, new clothes, clolour books and crayons)
Afghan Canadian Response

instagram: @afghancanadianresponse
“Grassroots inititiative focused on emergency relief, resettlement aid, and groundlevel advocacy for the crisis in Afghanistan”
Salaam Foundation

info@salaamfoundation.ca

insta: @salaamfoundation.ca
300 refugee families have arrived in the York Region and are in need of essential items. Individuals can drop off items or e-transfer at: donation@salaamfoundation.ca
Infowellnessworldwide@gmail.com

linktree: Wellness Worldwide for Sustainable Communities

instagram: @wellnessworldwide_
Headquarter in Los Angeles, CA – operating in different regions of Afghanistan.We are an Afghan women led NGO currently operating in Afghanistan. We have been on the ground for 3 years now. Our projects include 1) complex medical care for Afghan children 2) a free clinic and pharmacy in a refugee camp in Nangarhar province, where 35k internally displaced people are gathered 3) emergency food aid programs. Two weeks ago we started distributing food, twice a day, for 1000 internally displaced people living in dire conditions in Kabul area. We are urgently raising funds to continue our distribution, moving on to Kunduz next, and have plans to expand our activity – including funding an OBGYN doctor for women’s health at our free clinic. This is a free service and purely volunteer based organisation with zero overhead costs. Every dollar goes to the Afghan people in need.

TitleDescriptionNotes
Refugee Pathways (Canada)How to navigate the refugee application process in Canada
Resettling Afghans who assisted Canada: Volunteer and donateIf you’d like to help refugees arriving in Canada, you can volunteer or donate (clothing, furniture, or money)Canadian government’s efforts
U.S. Embassy Kabul Repatriation Assistance Request 2021 The U.S. Embassy in Kabul is collecting information from U.S. Citizens who may need assistance returning to the United States due to the security situation in Afghanistan. The information collected in this form will only be used by the U.S. government for the purpose of facilitating return travel to the United States. If you are not already enrolled, please sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://step.state.gov to ensure you receive travel and health notifications from the U.S. Embassy.For American citizens stuck in Kabul
Emergency Support for Afghan InterpretersVTN is accepting donations to provide shelter and support to interpreters in Afghanistan awaiting evacuation to Canada.
In the Name of My PeopleDocumentary about Afghanistan
Refugee Claimants arriving in Canada from the United States
Leaving AfghanistanWhat you need, what you need to do depending on which country you want to go toInternational (Canadian advice included)
#Afghanistan Support: Information and Resources This document aims to act as a repository of information and resources for Afghans (and those in Afghanistan) in need of support right now and/or those who wish to provide that support. I’m not an Afghan nor do I have expertise on the situation. This is just an effort to document/gather in one place all the ongoing initiatives and information available on an immediate/urgent basis. It is also an effort to amplify the voice and needs of the Afghans.American
The Government of CanadaFor assistance with immigration program for Afghans who assisted the Government of Canada, contact: Canada-Afghanistan@international.gc.ca. For the humanitarian program to resettle Afghans outside of Afghanistan or reuniting Afghan nationals with their families in Canada, contact: IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca, phone number: +1 (613) 996-8885
A Thread on the Special Program for Afghans who Assisted CanadaResettling Afghans who Assisted Canada: How it works and who can apply
If you’d like to add to this resource guide, please click the button below. If you see your name/organization on this document and you would like us to take it down, please email ccap@ayedi.ca with subject line: Resource Guide Take-down.