Where Are They Now — Finding a Home in an Unfamiliar Land

A Journey from Afghanistan to Matthew House

Matthew House
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

*Throughout this story, Aamir is used as a pseudonym for the former Matthew House resident who wished to remain anonymous*

In September of 2014, Aamir stepped foot in Toronto for the first time and “inhaled the clean air of freedom.” Following a harrowing journey, in which he slept twenty hours in thirteen days, he was relieved to land in a place where he felt comfortable to shut his eyes and finally rest.

Due to the nature of his flight, he arrived in Toronto without documentation and struggled to initially prove his identity to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). However, despite his ordeal, he was shocked by the politeness of the officials. After one CBSA official offered him Tim Hortons coffee, Aamir asked his interviewer, Hannah, if Canadians took “medication for being so nice and polite.” Hannah chuckled and replied, “Welcome to Canada. This is how we are. We say ‘sorry’ for everything, and we try to be nice and kind.”

Making the decision to leave his home in Afghanistan was extremely difficult, but it was a choice he had to make for the safety of his family. Aamir was, therefore, grateful to find a home away from home at Matthew House.

During his two-month stay, he received assistance with paperwork and legal support prior to his refugee claim hearing. Volunteers conducted orientations on the Canadian seasons, which especially helped Aamir to prepare for wintertime. And, when he moved out in December 2014, he was provided with all the necessities needed to furnish a new home.

In his own words, “they trusted me, understood me and, most important of all, gave me a chance to become a part of the Matthew House family.” He developed deep connections with Matthew House staff, volunteers and residents, which continue to benefit him to this day.

Moving out in December 2014 proved to be a struggle. At first, reality hit him like a “splash of cold water” in the face, when he realized that he needed to find a job and a new place to live.

Finding housing was particularly difficult, as many landlords were reluctant to rent to newcomers without a full-time job. Nevertheless, he overcame this obstacle by renting a two-bed apartment with a Matthew House volunteer, who later became his closest friend.

Finding a full-time job was also challenging. He ended up working in the culinary industry for three months and thought about becoming a chef; however, as he needed to financially support his family back home, he couldn’t return to school at that time. Shortly thereafter, a good friend and member of the Matthew House staff contacted him about a job within a software company in the Greater Toronto Area. To this day, Aamir continues to work full-time for this very same company.

Since moving out of Matthew House in 2014, Aamir continues to give back to his former home as a volunteer. He frequently cooks for new residents, and credits several “good hearted volunteers” as his impetus for getting involved in other volunteer organizations.

Aamir also loves to escape the city in his spare time to go camping in Muskoka. He’s come to absolutely love the tranquility of the Canadian outdoors.

In the long run, Aamir dreams of attending a trade school and starting his own business. He’d ultimately like to buy a beautiful but modest home in Uxbridge or Port Perry, and live a “quiet and peaceful life.”

Looking back on his adjustment to life in Canada, he remarked,

“moving to a new home and starting life from zero is never an easy thing for anyone, but I consider myself lucky that I have a full-time job and a group of very supportive and positive friends who I met in the past three years.”

With the Matthew House family at his side and his career well under way, Aamir may yet accomplish his goals and settle down against the peacefully quiet backdrop he seeks.

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Matthew House

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A community of hope that provides welcome, shelter, and support to newly arrived refugee claimants in Toronto, Canada.

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