With the support of a wonderful team of volunteers, Álvaro is responsible for all coordination, management and communication activities of the program. As such, he is in contact with sponsors, ensuring that all sponsorship documentation and finances are in order, and that when the refugees arrive, they are received by a welcoming and supportive community. He is the liaison with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the processing of sponsorship applications, and he maintains relations with all the agencies and organizations that provide settlement services in the region. Álvaro came to Canada as a refugee in 1985 and working with immigrants and refugees became an important part of his professional experience, when he moved to Victoria in 1993: he joined the Inter-Cultural Association (ICA) as their community development facilitator. Later, among other exciting jobs, Alvaro worked with the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria (CSPC), where he led the development of a Community Action Plan on Poverty (2012). Álvaro’ most recent experience was with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre (VIRCS), where he worked as the manager of the Settlement Program, and as the chair of the Vancouver Island Refugee Response Team (2015). Before joining the Refugee Sponsorship Program, Álvaro went to Colombia for a year! His job was to help small organic fruit producers in the development of leadership and organizational skills to improve their productivity and sustainability. Álvaro holds a Master of Sciences in Sociology from the University of Alberta, and in his country of origin – El Salvador, he had the opportunity to complete a BSc in Agricultural Engineering.
Passions: Music, photography, social justice, life.
Favourite Food: Homemade Pupusas de Queso con Frijoles (a Salvadoran dish).
Least Favourite Food: Tripe
Favourite Book: I don’t have one, but I’m currently reading Stories from the Magic Canoe, by Cecil Paul.
Favourite Movie: Cantinflas’ “El Siete Machos”.