Canadian immigration to expand refugee internship scheme

June 08 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty

Refugees can work in Canada

The Canadian government says it hopes to expand a pilot scheme that provides valuable work experience and opportunities to refugees who have graduated from university on Canadian visas.

The scheme, which was launched last year, gives refugees the opportunity to work within Citizenship and Immigration Canada, gaining valuable training and work experience. The scheme welcomed 12 participants in its first year.

Jason Kenney, the Canadian immigration minister, is expected to make an announcement today that the scheme is to be rolled out across other government departments, offering more refugees the opportunity to work or study in Canada.

Afghanistan-born Nasir Maimanagy is one of the young people who benefited from the scheme in its first year. He moved to Canada nine years ago through World University Services Canada, which gave him the opportunity to study political science at Toronto University. He then won a place on the internship scheme, working as a programme officer.

Maimanagy says the scheme will give gifted refugees the opportunity to take meaningful, challenging employment while they work in Canada. They can also gain valuable work experience to allow them to transfer their skills to gain further employment. Eventually, they may gain citizenship for themselves and their families.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada says it will take a further ten graduates in September.

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