Reception House Waterloo Region

06/15/2026

Last week, the Reception House Waterloo Region team had the pleasure of attending the Muslim Social Services Gala 🌙✨

We were honoured to be nominated for the Community Allyship Award and grateful to celebrate alongside so many inspiring community leaders. It was also a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Mayor of the City of Kitchener, our elected officials, and our great community leaders.

Thank you to Muslim Social Services for hosting such a meaningful event and for the important work you do in our community 💙

If you want to be part of our work you can volunteer or donate to support us continue our work check our website.

06/12/2026

Meet the Leaders Behind the Scenes, Supporting New Beginnings in Waterloo Region

Behind every warm welcome is a dedicated team of senior leaders committed to helping newcomers build new lives in our community.

Guided by a shared vision of belonging, security, and opportunity, they work every day to ensure refugees and vulnerable communities have the support, resources, and connections they need to thrive.

From providing temporary housing and settlement supports to fostering inclusion and empowerment, their leadership helps create a community where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

If you are interested in supporting our work, Please use the following link to read about our new affordable housing project called " Home Begins Here "
https://receptionhouse.ca/wp-content/uploads/Updated-Case-for-Support-Reception-House.pdf

💙 Building belonging
💙 Supporting new beginnings
💙 Strengthening our community together

06/09/2026

Nous avons eu le plaisir, ce dimanche, de rencontrer les nouveaux arrivants Francophones de la région de Waterloo. Cette rencontre a été marquée par plusieurs activités partagées, ainsi que par un moment convivial autour d’une Cuisine Mediterranean et de rafraîchissements appréciés de tous.

Les enfants, quant à eux, ont particulièrement profité des jeux dans le parc et ont passé un excellent moment ensemble 🎉

L’ensemble des participants a exprimé sa gratitude envers Reception House pour les efforts déployés dans l’organisation de cet événement. Ils ont également manifesté leur satisfaction à l’égard du concours proposé, ainsi que des questions portant sur les programmes de Reception House.

Les enfants ont pris part à un concours de danse africaine💃, au terme duquel deux d’entre eux ont remporté respectivement la première et la deuxième place 🥇🥈

Un grand merci également à Lena du conseil scolaire MonAvenir et à Gerata du CS Viamonde . Leur présence parmi nous a été grandement appréciée.

Les participants ont unanimement exprimé leur souhait de voir davantage de rencontres en plein air organisées à l’avenir.

06/04/2026

Reception House invite les Francophones de KW à un autre Café Rencontre, et cette fois nous allons beaucoup nous amuser ensemble au parc Victoria Kitchener !

Ce dimanche le 7 juin à Victoria Park, de 13h à 17h. Amenez vos enfants, il y aura plein de surprises et nous partagerons de la nourriture et des moments de plaisir ensemble. Cette fois, cela se passe à Victoria Park, à Kitchener qui se trouve au : 35 Dill street Kitchener. Rejoignez-nous, nous allons passer un bon moment ensemble !

Nous aurons plein de surprises pour les adultes comme pour les enfants. Il y aura de la cuisine Méditerranéenne à partager, shawarma et Kebab, repas pour enfants et de la limonade ; billets d’autobus seront fournis aussi.

Nous allons faire un tirage au sort, et le gagnant remportera une surprise🎉🥳.

Lien d’inscription Gratuite : https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/cyuUQECEAk

05/26/2026

Samedi dernier, le Café des Rencontres francophones a une fois de plus réuni de nouveaux arrivants de la région!

Bien plus qu’un simple lieu de rassemblement, cet espace permet aux participants de tisser des liens personnels et professionnels, de pratiquer le français, de découvrir la culture et les réalités locales, et de renforcer leur sentiment d’appartenance à la région de Waterloo.

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Last Saturday, the Café des Rencontres Francophones once again brought together newcomers from across the region!
More than just a gathering space, this program gives participants the opportunity to build personal and professional connections, practice French, explore local culture and systems, and strengthen their sense of belonging in the Waterloo Region.

05/25/2026

⚽️ On Monday, May 11, we hosted our second Reception House Futsal Tournament in partnership with the City of Kitchener, in celebration of Youth Month.

The event engaged 45 youth from Reception House. In the finals, RGA FC (Rohingya FC) defeated AFC (Afghanistan FC) to claim the championship. Beyond the competition, the tournament provided a vital opportunity for newcomer youth to participate in recreational activities, combat isolation, and build friendships.

Congratulations to RGA FC !!( Rohingya FC) 🏆

05/22/2026

Behind every success story is an extraordinary team 💙

To our RH staff: thank you for your dedication, your compassion, and the countless ways you show up for our clients each day. You are the reason this work has such a lasting impact, and we are incredibly proud and grateful to have you.

05/21/2026

This Wednesday, we joined partners and community leaders to mark an important investment in safer, more inclusive communities across Waterloo Region!

Through the Civil Remedies Grant, Reception House Waterloo Region and Muslim Social Services are expanding trauma-informed, culturally responsive supports for newcomers, youth and families.

This funding will strengthen our community through programs like Building Bridges, helping reduce isolation, foster inclusion and equip vulnerable newcomers with the tools and confidence to rebuild their lives and feel a true sense of belonging.

Stories from survivors remind us that access to care, language and culturally responsive support can make all the difference in a healing journey. This work is life-changing, and it is only possible through collaborations like this.

We are grateful to Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General for this investment and proud to work alongside partners who show up every day with compassion and care. As well as a huge thank you to MPP Jess Dixon for supporting this initiative and participating in the announcement.

Together, let's build bridges and strengthen, empower communities.

Jess Dixon
Muslim Social Services of Waterloo Region

05/20/2026

Samedi dernier, nous avons eu le plaisir d'accueillir Lena du Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
Lena, les francophones de KW ont beaucoup apprécié votre présence et ont énormément appris grâce à votre présentation.

Je tiens à vous remercier au nom de Reception House et de la communauté francophone de KW pour votre professionnalisme et votre engagement envers la communauté.

Je suis convaincu que les gens bénéficieront grandement du Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir et des services que vous offrez.

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Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Lena Abdo from the MonAvenir Catholic School Board.

Lena, the Francophone community of KW greatly appreciated your presence and learned a lot from your presentation.

I would like to thank you, on behalf of Reception House and the Francophone community of KW, for your professionalism and your commitment to the community.

I am confident that many people will greatly benefit from the MonAvenir Catholic School Board and the services you offer.

05/19/2026

Behind every journey is a story of resilience.

In this conversation between Reception House Waterloo Region CEO Babur Mawladin and Laura Mae Lindo, we hear a powerful reflection on what it means to rebuild, belong and move forward in a new community; how strong and tailored support systems save lives and prevent exhaustion of resources.

Stories like this remind us why our work matters, and the impact of compassionate, community-driven support.

🔗 Watch the full interview: https://www.rogerstv.com/waterloo-region/show/255fcfab-fe0d-4357-9db0-4e56a5a07e16?video=b9da1ae4-91bf-4bb2-ba81-8d9ae9bc2d23

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