Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department

Social Work

Faculty/School

Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work

First Advisor

Ginette Lafreniere

Advisor Role

Dissertation Committee Member

Second Advisor

Gary Cameron

Advisor Role

Dissertation Committee Member

Third Advisor

Robert Gebotys

Advisor Role

Dissertation Committee Member

Abstract

Mennonite Christians in the Kitchener Waterloo region have been involved in the work of refugee assistance for the past 25 years as an expression of their Christian faith. Their involvement is primarily in two forms. One form of refugee assistance is through providing sponsorship to refugees from overseas to Canada. Sponsorship is done through the Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario and Federal Private Sponsorship Program. In this program, Church congregations commit themselves to the financial and settlement support of the sponsored refugee(s) for a minimum of one year. The other form of assistance is through the funding and staffing of the Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support (MCRS), a small agency in downtown Kitchener that provides settlement support to refugee claimants as well as assistance on the refugee claim process. This qualitative study explored the work of refugee assistance undertaken by Mennonite Christians in the Kitchener Waterloo region through their engagement in private sponsorship and with MCRS. Twelve individuals participated in the research through engagement in qualitative, semi-structured interviews. Data from the interviews was analyzed and four themes emerged that help to describe the nature of the work of refugee assistance. Although many themes emerged from the research, it was found that overarching each of these is the greater theme of “Welcoming the Stranger” which describes the desire of Mennonite Christians to adhere to the Biblical call to play host to those who are marginalized within society.

Convocation Year

2004

Convocation Season

Fall

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