*Stock photo used to maintain client privacy
After facing unimaginable loss and threats to his safety, Bernard* was able to find refuge in Canada in late 2023. While he waits for his refugee asylum claim to be heard, and to be reunited with his family, he is finding support through Archway’s SAFE HAVEN Refugee Claimant Support Services.
Bernard is from the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) where almost a million refugees fled from the genocide in the neighbouring country of Rwanda in 1994. The aftermath of the genocide as well as the First and Second Congo Wars created significant regional instability that continues to this day. Bernard belongs to the Banyamulenge tribe, a minority ethnic group that faced severe consequences due to their perceived foreign origins and Tutsi affiliations. During the conflicts, Bernard lost his father, grandfather, and older brother.
“It was a very difficult time, and I had all the responsibility of my family,” shared Bernard.
In 2008, Bernard moved his family to Rwanda to escape the rebel groups that threatened their community.
“It was those rebels that killed our community of Banyamulenge.”
Life in Rwanda proved challenging. Without a job or farmland, Bernard struggled to support his family. They lived in a church for the first year before he found a job as a security guard. Despite these hardships, Bernard remained persistent on moving forward.
By 2015, Bernard had lost that job, so he moved to Kenya without his family in search of work. Starting as a warehouse worker, he eventually rose to the position of area sales manager, working there for eight years.
“It was those rebels that killed our community of Banyamulenge.”
Despite the relative stability in Kenya, the volatile situation in his home country continued to haunt him. In May 2023, during a visit to Rwanda to see his family, Bernard was detained by the Rwanda Investigation Board (RIB) and pressured to join the M23 rebel group.
“Because I was fear with my life, I accepted, and I sign the agreement. I thought I was lost to my family.”
He was told that the group would come back to pick him up in one week and take him to DCR.
Bernard’s friend, Dave*, was a staff member of the RIB who came to visit him that same night. Bernard explained the situation to Dave and asked Dave to use his connections with the RIB to help him return to Kenya. Despite the danger to Dave, he agreed to help his friend.
Three days later, Dave helped Bernard return to Kenya from Rwanda. However, Bernard’s safety was still at risk. He was arrested multiple times, and threats to return him to the DCR were constant.
It was during these turbulent times that Bernard applied for visas to several countries, including Canada. By a stroke of luck, he received a Canadian visa in October 2023. Bernard went to an airport in Kenya, but the airport officials told him it was not possible for him to leave from Kenya to Canada.
“They refused me to come to Canada, because they told me it’s not possible to leave Kenya if you are citizen of one of the countries of the East Africa community.”
To his horror, they told him to go back to Rwanda where he could fly directly to Canada. Bernard was afraid to go back to Rwanda, so he called Dave for help once again.
“Dave told me that he can help me, but only if I come to Rwanda one day before I fly.”
With only three days before his flight, Bernard went to Uganda where Dave picked him up and escorted him to Rwanda where he was finally able to fly to Canada. He found a place to stay with a friend in Abbotsford.
Bernard was then introduced to the SAFE HAVEN Refugee Claimant Support Services program, which aims to ease the transition of refugee claimants into Canadian society. The program offers a range of services, including short-term mental health counselling, settlement services, labour market support, English classes, and supported referrals to housing.
SAFE HAVEN Refugee Claimant Support Services team: Mohammed, Saba, Jen, and Christian (L-R)
“They refused me to come to Canada, because they told me it’s not possible to leave Kenya if you are citizen of one of the countries of the East Africa community.”
“When refugee claimants come to Canada, they must present their case to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada who then determines their eligibility to become a refugee in this country. If granted, they can then apply for permanent residency and sponsor their immediate family to join them in Canada,” said Jen Romero, the program supervisor.
While Bernard awaits his refugee asylum hearing date, his wife, mother, sister, and five children remain in Rwanda. He fears for their safety, sharing that his wife’s uncle was recently killed.
As Bernard navigates his new life in Canada, he is continuing to learn English, applying for jobs and volunteering at an assisted living facility.
He is determined to establish a stable life in Abbotsford so he can bring his loved ones to Canada, ensuring they too can enjoy the safety and opportunities he has found. Bernard stays in touch with them via WhatsApp, eagerly awaiting the day they can be reunited.
Bernard’s journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Canada is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite the numerous challenges and dangers he has faced, he remains hopeful and focused on building a better future for himself and his family.
*Real name withheld for privacy and safety reasons
“When refugee claimants come to Canada, they must present their case to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada who then determines their eligibility to become a refugee in this country. If granted, they can then apply for permanent residency and sponsor their immediate family to join them in Canada.”