CDWCR seeks to improve the lives and working conditions of caregivers and domestic workers through information, counseling, organizing, support networks, educational and training programs, referrals for legal advice and temporary accommodation.

CDWCR Care-Net Project 2013 Concludes

JANUARY 2014

Domestics’ Info Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights

Lorina’s presentation covered the following topics: banking basics, budgeting and how it helps achieve one’s financial goals, savings and investments, debts (good and bad debts), and importance of having a will. Pinky discussed the different kinds of life insurance and their importance depending on individual circumstance. (cont’d on page 2)

“PASKO NA NAMAN” – CDWCR Launches “ The Singing Nannies and Friends” at a Christmas Concert

The Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR) has completed its 2013 Care-Net Project. Care-Net Project is a series of eight workshops to assist caregivers in adjusting to life in Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). The Project is funded through the generosity of BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU).

The last three workshops that took place at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House were:

Sept. 22, 2013- Financial Literacy Oct. 20, 2013- Preparing for PR Nov. 17, 2013- Life after LCP

Lorina Serafico- Financial Solutions Specialist of Scotiabank and Florence “Pinky” Dizon, Insurance Advisor of Vance Financial Group, facilitated the Financial Literacy Workshop.

Participants of the Preparing for LCP Workshop (story on page 2) Highlights:

Domestic’s Issues 2

Preparing for PR 1

Pasko Na Naman 1

CDWCR Anniversary 3

Life After LCP 1

Announcements 4

“Pasko Na Naman” – A Philippine Christmas Celebration in Music and Dance, is a fundraising concert for the benefit of the Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR). It was held last November 23, 2013 at the Asian Centre Auditorium, UBC, Vancouver. It is sponsored by the UBC Centre for Southeast Asian Research, the Institute of Asian Research, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, and Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Eleanor Laquian and Marilyn Cunanan served as the Volunteer Fundraiser Organizers. The concert launched the “The Singing Nannies and Friends”, a choral group comprised of former and current caregivers and domestic workers, and supporters. Marilyn Cunanan acted as the choral director, while Eleanor Laquian and Darla Tomeldan were the guitarists. The concert featured Rosario Strings led by Kimwell del Rosario, a talented violinist and other Filipino talents and performers. The concert emcee was Marieton Pacheco, ABS-CBN TV personality.

The concert was a success and well attended. Positive feedbacks and praises were received from those who attended. They experienced the spirit of Filipino Christmas through songs and dances. The Philippine Cultural Arts and Society Dance (PhilCAS) performed the popular folk dances Tinikling and Binasuan to great applause. (Cont’d on page 3)

ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to increasing costs of printing and mailing, CDWCR will be sending out the CDWCR Newsletter to its members through e-mail. If you want to receive your copy through email, please send your email address and updated contact information to cdwcr.org@gmail.com . We will still be mailing out to those who do not have access to e-mail. Thank you for your understanding.

Care-Net 2013 , cont’d from page 1 The goal of the financial workshop was to provide participants with information on how to effectively and wisely manage their finances as they settle in Canada. For instance, on the topic related to budgeting, Lorina showed how to reach financial goals in a SMART way. She indicated that to succeed, financial goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and within established time-frame. For caregivers who are still under the LCP, their financial goals could be to save for processing fees when they apply for their permanent residency or for their family’s air fares when they come to Canada. The Financial Basics workshop was co-funded by Scotiabank. The Preparing for Permanent Residence (PR) workshop was attended by 27 participants. The workshop was facilitated by CDWCR members and volunteers: CDWR’s Cenen Bagon, Judith Diesta and Lotis Caluza and Darla Tomeldan, a Legal Advocate at West Coast Domestic Workers Association (WCDWA). To encourage interactive participation and to assess the participants’ level of understanding regarding the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), Cenen engaged the participants in reading immigration scenarios and answering questions that would lead the participants to explain the LCP requirements relevant to the scenarios and questions. Judith presented the application form and checklist for the general requirements to apply for permanent residency (PR). Darla facilitated the procedure on how to fill up the application form. Lotis went over the various fees required in applying for PR. To better understand the application process, the participants were divided into different groups according to their marital status: single, married with dependents, single with children and separated/divorced. Outcomes of the group discussions were shared with the entire group so everybody could benefit from them.

To encourage participants to be proactive, Darla addressed common and complicated cases and how to avoid them. Participants were pleased with how the workshop was conducted. Overall, the workshop presented valuable and comprehensive information to help caregivers on how to apply for their PR. The Life After LCP workshop was the last workshop of Care-Net Project, and served as the culminating activity for those who completed the series of Care-Net workshops. It was attended by 21 participants. The workshop’s goal was to provide participants with the necessary resources to assist them and their family in settling in Canada as they transitioned to permanent residents. The resource speakers focused on their basic and immediate needs such as adaptation, housing, employment and children’s education. Following are the resource speakers and the topics they covered in the workshop: Liza Bautista, Project Manager – Employment Outreach Services - Immigrant Services Society (ISS). Liza presented the various programs and services that ISS provides including the Skills Connect. Skills Connect is a program that provides assistance relating to assessment of skills, qualifications and experience, career counseling and planning, English training, workplace language support, and other skill enhancements such as access to mentoring with professionals in the field, job search assistance and workshops, access to job leads from employers in the network, and support from an Employment Counselor and Employer Relations Specialist for partial funding for skills upgrades, language training and professional association memberships. Liza discussed how caregivers after completing LCP can avail of these services. (cont’d on page 4)

2 January 2014 DOMESTICS’ INFO

Q&A on Domestics’ Issues Q. I am a live-in caregiver and completed the requirements to apply for permanent residence. I have a spouse and children in the Philippines but my husband wants to delay their coming to Canada. Do I need to include them in the application? A. You must include all your family members in your application for permanent resident status, even if they do not want to come to Canada with you right away. Family members who are not listed in your application cannot be sponsored by you at a later date. You and your family members can get permanent resident status at the same time. All your family members must first pass medical and criminal screening before you can receive permanent resident status. When you receive your permanent resident status, your family members will receive immigrant visas from the visa office in their home country.

Q. Can I go on vacation while my application for permanent residence is being processed?

A. Taking a vacation outside of Canada should not affect your application for permanent residence. However, if you leave Canada while your application is being processed, you may not be allowed to come back into Canada. Each time you come back, you must meet all the rules for entering the country. If you leave Canada and want to return, you must have a valid passport or other travel documents, a valid work permit, if you are returning to work in Canada, and a valid temporary resident visa, if you are a citizen of a country for which Canada requires it.

For more information, please visit the CIC website: www.cic.gc.ca, or call CDWCR at (604.874.0649) or West Coast Domestic Workers Association (604.669.4482).

CDWCR’s 21st Anniversary Celebration and Christmas Party

3 January 2014 DOMESTICS’ INFO

Pasko Na Naman, cont’d from page 1 Despite the limited time to prepare and practice, “The Singing Nannies and Friends” delivered a spirited and remarkable performance. They were well applauded by an enthusiastic audience and after the concert, were invited to perform at other community events including some fundraising efforts for the Typhoon Yolanda victims. CDWCR would like to acknowledge all the donors who supported the Souvenir program, and all the community friends, supporters and volunteers who shared their ideas, contributed their talents, energies and hard work to make this undertaking a success. CDWCR also would like to thank all those who attended the concert and joined the sing-along of Christmas carols, making the event really meaningful. CDWCR would like to give special recognition to Mr. Prod Laquian and Mrs Eleanor Laquian for conceptualizing and spearheading the organization of this fundraising activity, to Marilyn Cunanan for giving her time, talent and energy in organizing the concert, mentoring and directing the Singing Nannies; to Julie Diesta, who led the fundraising team and worked hard not just to coordinate the activities but to recruit the Singing Nannies as well; to Leo “Jun” Cunanan for designing the flyer and souvenir program, and to all performers who shared their talents without any monetary remuneration. Proceeds from this fundraising will support CDWCR’s activities to advocate for the caregivers under the Live-in Caregiver Program.

“The Singing Nannies and Friends” members: Carina Alamil, Cathy Bernabe, Mary Love Bantique, Lotis Caluza, Revielyn Tucay, Rowena Lagunzad, Vivian de Guzman, Ludy Inting, Nora Lagunzad, Cheryl Flores Ramilo, Lorina Serafico, Judith Diesta, Rose Taruc, and Teresa Ginodepanon; with Eleanor Laquian , Darla Tomeldan, Marilyn Cunanan, Julie Diesta, Prod Laquian, and Kimwell del Rosario.

CDWCR celebrated its 21st Anniversary on December 7, 2013. It was held at the South Vancouver Neighborhood House, 6470 Victoria Dr. The event was also the organization’s Christmas party. It was attended by its members, supporters, and members’ families and friends. Highlights of the celebration were performances by The Singing Nannies and Friends. Some CDWCR members performed Christmas songs with their children. There were also games, singing of Christmas carols, dancing, and a sumptuous buffet complete with anniversary cake. CDWCR would like to thank all those who attended and shared the celebration. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who organized the event and those who donated door prizes and foods to share. This was indeed a good way to end another productive year for CDWCR.

Membership Form Mail to: CDWCR PO Box 37033, Vancouver, BC V5P 3X0 For inquiries: (604) 874-0649

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Care-Net … cont’d from page 2 Chit Arma, Settlement Worker, Immigrant Services Society (ISS). She discussed housing, accreditation and other settlement services. She also explained how a person can qualify for rental assistance based on income. She indicated that to be eligible for assistance, the income must be below $35,000 per year. Affordable housing application can be accessed online www.metrovancouver.org or through the ISS office. Rommel Mannikan, Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS) of the Vancouver School Board. He provided information on services like how to avail of orientation briefings for new families and referrals. The Settlement Workers in School (SWIS) Program of the Vancouver School Board (VSB) is a school-based settlement service that provides direct and immediate professional assistance to immigrants, refugees and eligible temporary resident students and their families after their arrival in Vancouver and registration in the public schools. Settlement workers facilitate the adjustment, adaptation, and integration of newly-arrived families in Canada. After the presentations, Carina Alamil , CDWCR member, shared her story as a domestic worker and migrant worker, and how this affected her family. Carina arrived in Canada in 1991. She worked in Singapore prior to coming to Canada, leaving her daughter behind. She was re-united with her daughter after 12 years of separation. Although she tried to communicate often and she sent all the

We wish to thank: • BCGEU (British Columbia Government & Service Employees Union) • HEU (Hospital Employees Union) • COPE (Canadian Office and Profession Employees Union) Local 378 • HSA (Health Sciences Association of BC) • WCDWA ( West Coast Domestic Workers Association) • Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISS) • Scotiabank

We also want to acknowledge everyone's efforts in putting our newsletter together. Thank you very much for all your contributions.

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material things her daughter needed while she was away, her absence adversely affected their relationship when they were reunited in Canada. It took a while before they were able to communicate and adjust to each other. Although Carina is happy now because she is able to re-establish her relationship with her daughter and with her granddaughter, Carina’s experience showed one of the negative effects of family separation. This is one of the reasons why CDWCR continues to advocates for “Landed Status” for caregivers and domestic workers when they come to Canada, so they can bring their family if they choose to. Overall, the feedback from the participants is very positive as “we learn new things each year.” CDWCR is very pleased with the results of the 2013 Care-Net Project. Although organizing eight workshops can be challenging due to the limited resources and lack of paid staff, the concerted efforts of its members and volunteers helped them to successfully complete the annual project which is now on its seventh year. It is also worth mentioning that CDWCR continuously get support from other organizations and community volunteers who willingly serve as resource persons and facilitators at these workshops. Through funding from BCGEU, CDWCR will continue to organize the 2014 Care-Net Project. The project will have the same format and objectives as in the previous years. Please refer to the Announcement section for the 2014 dates. We encourage all caregivers to save these dates and attend all these workshops.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Upcoming 2014 CDWCR Care-Net Project

Workshops Feb. 16, 2014 – Immigration March 9, 2014 – Income Tax Preparation April 13, 2014 – Elderly Care June 22, 2014 – Employment Standards Aug. 10, 2014 - Childcare Sept. 14, 2014 – Financial basics Oct. 19, 2014 – Preparing for Permanent Residence Nov. 16, 2014 – Life after LCP Workshops are held at:

South Vancouver Neighbourhood House

6470 Victoria Drive and 49th Avenue,

Vancouver, BC, 1pm to 5pm.

Free lunch: 12pm- 1pm. To register phone:

(604) 874-0649

Other Activities May 4, 2014 – Annual General Meeting July 1, 2014- Canada Day picnic July 20, 2014 – Summer Picnic/Get-away Oct. 25, 2014 – Halloween Fundraising dance Dec. 20 – 22nd anniversary celebration Details to be announced. For updates and more information visit our website: http://www.cdwcr.org

4 January 2014 DOMESTICS’ INFO