Past Projects
Beazhan Hussaini, representing Veterans Transition Network (VTN), successfully implemented the “Upholding Human Rights and Dignity for Vulnerable Afghans” program. The program was designed by Dr. Marvin Westwood at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Thrive Counselling Centre (Thrive). Additionally, Right to Learn Afghanistan translated the training manuals from English to Farsi and Pashto languages and supported the development and delivery of an online trauma training course.
This project was funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) under the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) for vulnerable Afghan refugees on the way to Canada from third-party countries, including Pakistan. The project started in November 2021 and successfully completed in March 2022.
Introduction to Trauma Online Course: VTN and UBC in collaboration with CW4WAfghan, have successfully launched an advanced online course in Basic Trauma Training. The course is hosted on the Darakht-e Danesh Library (DDL) platform, a Learning Management System developed by CW4WAfghan. Over 180 qualified Afghan refugees with different backgrounds, including former interpreters, have enrolled to complete the course and obtain a certificate of completion from UBC.
In-Depth Trauma Workshop: Thrive in collaboration with the VTN and Health Aid college conducted face to face online Basic and In-Depth Trauma workshops for qualified students, faculties and refugees. Thrive also conducted several face-to-face advanced trauma counseling sessions for the Afghan refugees.
Psycho-Educational Support, is an intervention with systematic, structured, and didactic knowledge transfer for an illness and its treatment, integrating emotional and motivational aspects to enable patients to cope with the illness and to improve its treatment adherence and efficacy. VTN provided psycho-educational support for Afghan refugees in transition, and created and deployed a variety of culturally competent interventions inside Afghanistan, Pakistan and third-party countries for refugees.
VTN in collaboration with UBC, Right to Learn Afghanistan and Thrive facilitated the introduction to PTSD related trauma online course and in-depth trauma workshop for Afghan refugees. Additionally, VTN conducted individual psycho-educational sessions for Afghan refugees. VTN extended support to Afghan refugees by expanding from training to psycho-educational assistance. Materials, translated into English, Dari, and Pashto, were shared, including advertising for the Introduction Trauma Online Course. Around 300 refugees were encouraged to participate on the DDL platform. The table shows the total number of beneficiaries by gender.
Partnering Organizations
​
Veterans Transition Network (VTN)
is the only Canadian charity that has evacuated most of the Afghan interpreters to Canada. Since August 2021, VTN has supported 3,470 individuals to safety. In 2023, under the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) “Safe Passage of Afghans” resettlement assistance program contribution agreement, VTN evacuated 263 Afghans (138 females, 125 males) and assisted 331, including 237 children and 40 infants. All individuals are now safe in Canada or a third country.
Refugee Transition Network (RTN)
formerly known as the Pericles Development Corporation, was incorporated on August 10, 2015, in British Columbia. Initially operating as a contractor for the Veterans Transition Network (VTN), RTN has since evolved into a dedicated social enterprise focused on supporting refugees in third-party countries. Since 2022, RTN has played a significant role in Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Safe Passage of Afghans resettlement assistance program. The RTN leadership team, including its board of directors, brings extensive global experience to assist refugees in navigating complex transitions.
Limelight Radiant Corporation (LRC)
is a Canadian corporation with a mission to assist qualified Afghan refugees in their journey to Canada, addressing their language, cultural, social and mental health needs. Since March 2022, LRC has been under contract with the Veterans Transition Network (VTN) as part of an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) “Safe Passage of Afghans” resettlement assistance program contribution agreement to facilitate the safe movement of eligible Afghan refugees from their home country to Canada, with the process taking place through a third country. LRC supported the evacuation process of over 1000 refugees, including men, women, and infants.
Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre (Thrive)
is a Canadian registered Counselling Clinic. Under contract with the Veterans Transition Network (VTN) as part of an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) “Safe Passage of Afghans” resettlement assistance program contribution agreement, Thrive conducted several online trauma workshops for approximately 100 people and provided psycho-social support for qualified Afghan refugees transitioning to Canada. Thrive will offer a gender responsive versatile and portable two-day transition workshop assisting refugees in the often-overwhelming task of forming intercultural connections and meaningful relationships in Canada. Through the collaborative efforts of Thrive, Roxa Development Institute (RDI) helps refugees develop the soft skills needed for building reliable local networks, navigating new sociocultural norms, and ensuring overall health and well-being.
Right to Learn Afghanistan (formerly known as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan)
an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO (consultative status), is a federally registered Canadian charity founded in 1998 to advance education and educational opportunities for Afghan women and their families. Right to Learn Afghanistan has an extensive network of NGOs, educators, community organizations, and individuals including refugees and immigrants. They also have expertise in e-Learning platforms and the translation of digital and course training materials into English and various local languages for refugees. Darakht-e Danesh (DD) Academy www.darakhtdanesh.org lead by Right to Learn Afghanistan where includes DD Library hosting close to 7,000 open educational resources in 127 subjects, including lesson plans, audio books and videos, with over 50,000 monthly views.
University of British Columbia, the Institute for Veterans Education and Transition (IVET)
at the University of British Columbia will voluntarily support the RDI Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) project by offering trainings and educational opportunities for eligible veterans and qualified Afghan refugees recently came to Canada.
​