Dr. Ghazi Farooq
In November 2017, the Board of Directors of Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society announced an initiative to develop a fund to provide emergency support for Newcomers to the community. The fund was named the “Ghazi Farooq Newcomers Emergency Fund” in recognition of the contribution and support that Dr. Ghazi and Mrs. Janet Farooq have provided to many newcomers/immigrants and refugees in the community and to the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society over the years.
Ghazi M Farooq, PhD, was a retired senior United Nations official. He believed that when retired, one should give back to one’s community as much as possible and he was passionate about assisting the newly arrived refugee families in Nanaimo and integrating them into the local community. Dr. Farooq passed away in September 2016. The community of Nanaimo has been enriched in many ways by the commitment of Dr. and Mrs. Farooq and through the development of this fund, the community will continue to be able to provide emergency support for our newcomers.
Donations can be made on-line or in person. 100% of the funds raised will be used to support newcomers. The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society will seed the Ghazi Farooq Newcomers Emergency Fund with a $10,000 contribution, as well as a generous donation of $5,000 from the Farooq family.
We urge our members, partners, leaders and community to join us in contributing to and promoting this initiative. It takes a community working together to support newcomers undergoing emergency life events.
Applicant Eligibility
- Only active Newcomer* clients of CVIMS can access the funds. (*Newcomer: immigrant with 5 years or less in Canada)
- The money must support people who have greatest need and who do not have access to other funds (e.g. through local or provincial funding sources, other community organizations, or through family).
- Applications will be reviewed weekly by committee. The decision will be shared with Settlement Worker, and communicated to applicant in a timely manner.
- Applications cannot be retroactive (i.e.: client comes to us knowing we have fund now wanting us to pay for something six months ago).
- Payments will only be made to 3rd parties, so quotes/estimates are required.
Please Note: The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society’s newcomer fund does not support the delivery of direct medical and psychological services to individuals and/or other services that are also covered through Interim Federal Health or MSP. We also do not fund companies, community groups or other non‐profit organizations.
If you choose to apply to the Emergency Fund, contact your worker at CVIMS for an application.