Each year, millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homelands to escape persecution, war or severe human rights abuses. Often, these people are permanently displaced and are never able to return home. Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, and the subsequent civil war, millions of people sought refuge in neighbouring Central and South Asian countries. Many also found themselves fleeing to North America, Europe and other countries to find a safe haven and start a new life.
On Friday, 9 October 2009, Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) and the Ismaili Council for Canada, together with a number of other organisations, were honoured for their work on refugee settlement at a ceremony in Toronto.
The occasion marked the 30th anniversary of the Private Sponsorship Program run by the Canadian Government, which has facilitated the admission of over 200 000 refugees to Canada, allowing them to build new lives for themselves.
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