Author: marco

MNLCT Newcomer Support App
Similar to PointB, this app is a bit different from others. This is an organization-specific service app, which focuses on serving clients throug the organization’s app rather than serving them through other tools, such as digital messaging.

Available in English, Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish, the Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLCT) Newcomer Support App was developed in partnership with iCent – a platform for international students and newcomers – and is designed to provide virtual tools to better support immigrants and refugees who are settled or settling in Ontario.

Key features include:
- COVID-19 updates regarding issues related to
  - settlement,
  - immigration,
  - legal rights,
  - employment,
  - mental health,
  - schooling
- #AskMNLCT webinars can be viewed right from the app
- Information on our programs and services and how we’re managing them online during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Trustworthy information on
  - settlement,
  - immigration,
  - legal rights,
  - employment,
  - health,
  - recreation,
  - the latest incidents affecting our communities
Upcoming features:
- Register for upcoming workshops, events, and information sessions for our programs
- Securely upload registration documents
- Book appointments with our settlement and mental health teams
- Live chat with staff
February 25, 2022
Ghurba Inc.

Note: the text below is an automatic translation of the text on the Google Play Store (from Arabic to English) and therefore is likely to contain translation errors.

A social service platform provides useful information in Arabic in various fields such as health, transportation and housing, education and employment Newcomers to Canada.

This platform is a bridge of communication between the newcomers or visitors with veterans of immigrant business owners, companies and professionals, experienced in the country, they underestimate their affairs of everyday life and help them adapt to their new country.

Therefore we have this creates a weird business guide is the first of its kind in Canada and the Western world, which includes more than four thousand companies and members of Arab organizations in various fields, such as doctors, lawyers, advisers immigration, contractors, real estate agents and mortgage and retail outlets and the sale of meat, in addition to community-based organizations and associations concerned with services the new arrivals of immigrants throughout Canada.

We have been careful while we collect this information at the highest degree of accuracy and credibility and to provide it to you in an organized manner, including communication with these companies or individuals information in addition to the addresses and working hours. We have also added property valuation to benefit users of this application from the previous experiences of people with such a wide range of companies and individuals.

With this application you will be able to:

• Quickly and easily search for companies and professionals Arabs, and get to communicate with any of them information as well as the ability to share this information with others
• Add your assessment of companies and services that are within the Weird guide
• access to basic guidance information for the area where you live, such as health insurance, housing, education, transportation and work translated into Arabic

We have made the State of Canada starting point for this project being of the population of this great country, which has always attracted thousands of Arab immigrants, and we hope very soon that we can be in all the Diaspora from Mushargaha to the west to provide our services to the Arabs wherever they are.

Finally, we hope and we wish to communicate your cooperation with us to express their opinion and advice anything you deem inappropriate or need to be corrected in this application Froakm and suggestions are the foundations of the construction of this project, which worked by a team of the finest Arab programmers.

February 25, 2022
PointB

PointB provides information, resources and online support to newcomers to Canada as part of the YMCA Immigrant Services program. Use is by invitation by the YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford Immigrant Services.

This is an organization-specific service app. An attempt to bring clients into the org’s app service environment rather than serving them through WhatsApp, etc.

February 25, 2022
Welcome to Saskatchewan
Welcome to Saskatchewan is a settlement mobile app hosted by International Women of Saskatoon (IWS) designed to help immigrants and refugees to achieve a smooth and successful transition into their life in Canada.

The mobile app will help newcomers to be able to access information on immigrating to Canada in a centralized fashion.

Currently it features the following, but will be updated with additional information and translated into different languages in the near future.
1. To – do list: Welcome to Saskatchewan has prepared a list of things to do for immigrants who are: Pre-arrival, 1-2 weeks after arrival and 3-8 weeks after arrival. These to-do lists include important things to prepare or do when arriving in Canada.
2. Overview of Canada and Saskatchewan: Another aspect of the mobile app is an overview of Canada and Saskatchewan. In this section, you are able to find general facts about Canada and Saskatchewan.
3. Current important information: Welcome to Saskatchewan also hosts current important information in a centralized manner. These categories will include phone numbers, web addresses and up to date information about topics that are geared towards newcomers.
Categories include:
a. Citizenship
b. Housing
c. Health care
d. Personal Finance
e. Employment
f. Education
g. Language
h. Benefits
February 25, 2022
Welcome to Alberta

Welcome to Alberta is a settlement mobile app created by Immigrant Services Calgary designed to help immigrants and refugees to achieve a smooth and successful transition into their life in Canada.

The mobile app will help newcomers to be able to access information on immigrating to Canada in a centralized fashion.

Currently it features the following, but will be updated with additional information and translated into different languages in the near future. It currently features three different categories:

1. To – do list: Welcome to Alberta has prepared a list of things to do for immigrants who are: Pre-arrival, 2 weeks after arrival and 2 months after arrival. These to-do lists include important things to prepare or do when arriving in Canada. The to-do lists also feature an option for everyone to add in their own to-do items.

2. Overview of Canada and Alberta: Another aspect of the mobile app is an overview of Canada and Alberta. In this section, you are able to find general facts about Canada and Alberta.

3. Current important information: Welcome to Alberta also hosts current important information in a centralized manner. These categories will include phone numbers, addresses and up to date information about topics that are geared towards newcomers.

Categories include:
a. Important documents
b. Finding a place to live
c. Healthcare
d. Finances
e. Employment
f. Education
g. Language
h. Benefit

February 25, 2022
Arrive connections

Created by RBC Ventures and connected to their web portal, their mobile app provides an additional channel to access their core services:

Personalized programs
Get information you know you can trust that’s relevant to your unique journey. Plus, tools and resources that really help. Learn anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Expert guidance
Our team of experts can help you reach your career, life and financial goals in Canada through webinars, workshops and more.

Exclusive offers
Take advantage of offers and discounts designed exclusively for newcomers starting out in Canada.

February 25, 2022
NewTo – Toronto Newcomer App

Created by Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership this mobile app is mainly a service directory for newcomers to Toronto. Services listed include free employment, language, housing, health and other services with a click; select services near you; find professionals that speak your language, etc.

They appear to have a newer version of the app under development.

February 25, 2022
Arrival Advisor (case study)

Arrival Advisor is a free information and orientation app for Newcomers to British Columbia and Manitoba.

The BC version is offered in English, French, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Punjabi, and Tagalog. The Manitoba version is offered in English and French.

Arrival Advisor provides orientation information on a number of topics including Employment, Health Care, Money & Banking, Housing, Education, Legal & Immigration. Newcomers can complete an optional questionnaire to get tailored information recommendations and referrals to local services. The community information is provided in partnership with 211 service providers.

Watch this video to learn more:

More information can be found in this P2P Canada Sharing Settlement and Integration Practices that Work backgrounder.

February 25, 2022
Digital Messaging for Settlement and Integration (DMSI) (case study)
The Digital Messaging for Settlement and Integration (DMSI) project is all about connecting newcomers with the information they need to successfully settle in Canada, when and where they need it. As a communications and mobilization organization, the team at Refugee 613 knew that traditional means of communicating information (websites, brochures) often don’t reach those most in need, which pushed us to explore new and better ways of sharing information. The DMSI project was a three year exploration of new ways to connect with newcomers using inexpensive, popular digital messaging platforms. The core principle of this project was to ‘go where the audience is’ to reach community members in places where they are already communicating and sharing information.

It started on WhatsApp with the Refugee 613 Welcomes You to Ottawa project. Watch this video to learn more. More information can be found in this P2P Canada Sharing Settlement and Integration Practices that Work backgrounder.

According to Refugee 613, they have “run a successful digital messaging group called Refugee 613 Welcomes You to Ottawa since 2017. Originally on WhatsApp and now on Telegram, this group now serves more than 300 people in Ottawa. It provides trusted information and referrals about settlement services and support information in Arabic, Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Refugee 613 built on the success of that group in 2018, and with financial investment from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), launched a national project to explore other ways of using digital messaging to build more welcoming communities. The DMSI (Digital Messaging for Settlement and Integration) project included research about how digital messaging is already being used in Canada to support newcomers, an evaluation of our WhatsApp group, and four new pilots so we could understand and share with others the full power of digital messaging for different purposes in newcomer settlement and integration.”

The project has since moved over to Telegram, which more robust group admin functionality, as well as capacity for larger groups (WhatsApp limits groups to 256 members). Refugee613 received funding to evaluate their approach, work with other settlement organizations to pilot innovative approaches to using digital messaging in service delivery, and to share their learning. The Digital Messaging for Settlement and Integration (DMSI) project recently hosted a national conference to share and continue the learning.

As part of that conference, they released a toolkit: Using Digital Messaging to Support Newcomer Communities – A Toolkit for Individuals and Organizations.

This toolkit provides information about how to use digital messaging to help newcomers settle a new country. The work has taken in place in Canada, but many of these lessons learned are applicable anywhere that immigrants are arriving.

Useful information in the toolkit includes:
- How digital messaging can support newcomers
- Tips for using digital messaging successfully
- Stages and steps to follow, including selecting your platform, guidelines for organizing and running a digital messaging service, and evaluating how well it is working
- Real-world examples of digital messaging in settlement and integration
The toolkit also provides sample checklists, policies, guidelines and tools that can help you set up and run your service with confidence.
February 25, 2022
Signal
Description

Signal is a digital messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption for privacy and security. This means that no one, including Signal, can read your messages or listen to your calls. Features include text messaging, making audio and video calls, send audio/video messages, and create group chats

Current known uses in the sector
- Signal can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to communicate securely and effectively with Newcomers who prefer digital messaging as a way to stay connected and informed.
Video overview

Pricing

Signal is free. However, you need a Wi-Fi or data connection in order to use it.

Ease of use & Accessibility

Easy to use (if you use WhatsApp, it’s very similar). Signal doesn’t have information about accessibility on its site.

Mobile friendly

Signal is a mobile app for Android and iOS.

Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

According to Signal, “Signal conversations are always end-to-end encrypted, which means that they can only be read or heard by your intended recipients.”

Multilingual capabilities

You can change the default language on Signal.

Additional resources
- Signal Support
February 25, 2022