He’s been working at the third-floor space for a dozen years, overseeing an organization that exists to provide resources and support for refugees and immigrants new to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Despite many attempts at raising funds, RIAC has been surviving month to month. This year, all its employees had to be let go, and now, RIAC found itself in a position where it can no longer pay its rent.
Rivera said the economic downturn had a lot to do with that; many regular donors pulled back due to financial uncertainty.
RIAC won’t quit
He said while RIAC is losing its longtime home, there are definitely no plans to shut down the organization. Thousands of newcomers have found support through the organization — probably about 6,000 in his tenure, he figures — and hundreds of volunteers are still working to provide that.
“The most important part that we need is to find a space to carry on with our ESL classes, and the support for newcomers that have been coming to the office on a regular basis. That’s the crucial part. But you have to get what you get,” he said.
“I keep saying, worst case scenario, we’ll be dispatching from a park bench.”
He said people have already called him about the loss of the office, and are helping to look into other options.
Boost from donors
After news got out Saturday about RIAC’s troubles, Rivera received a donation for $2,000 from Mark Ward of the Newfoundland International Student Education Program. Rivera said a $200 donation was also made through RIAC’s website, and a crowdfunding campaign is up and running on fundrazr.com.
The $2,000 donation would be enough to cover the next month’s rent, but long term, Rivera believes it will go further if they try to find a smaller, cheaper office.
Wherever RIAC ends up, Rivera said it will need more regular donors to help it sustain a monthly budget (new donors can visit riac.ca for more information).
“That way, we can focus on providing the services that are really needed, instead of hunting little donors here and pennies there, and scratching our heads every month — ‘what’s going to happen next?’
“The crucial element in all this story, is that we cannot hire personnel, prepare them, train them, get them qualified to bring the support, because we go on a monthly basis and that’s impossible.”
Rivera, whose family moved to Newfoundland from Colombia in 2002, said his biggest concern is for the newcomers who require RIAC’s support; that’s why he intends to keep on going.
“Who’s going to be out there for them?” he said.
“This is the best way for me to use my time, but most importantly, to pay back to Canada, as my wife and my two children came here as refugees in 2002. So we have 15 years of a wonderful life here, and we feel that we have to repay that.
“I feel that I am still a couple of pennies into what I owe to Canada.”
Twitter: @TelyLouis
He’s been working at the third-floor space for a dozen years, overseeing an organization that exists to provide resources and support for refugees and immigrants new to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Despite many attempts at raising funds, RIAC has been surviving month to month. This year, all its employees had to be let go, and now, RIAC found itself in a position where it can no longer pay its rent.
Rivera said the economic downturn had a lot to do with that; many regular donors pulled back due to financial uncertainty.
RIAC won’t quit
He said while RIAC is losing its longtime home, there are definitely no plans to shut down the organization. Thousands of newcomers have found support through the organization — probably about 6,000 in his tenure, he figures — and hundreds of volunteers are still working to provide that.
“The most important part that we need is to find a space to carry on with our ESL classes, and the support for newcomers that have been coming to the office on a regular basis. That’s the crucial part. But you have to get what you get,” he said.
“I keep saying, worst case scenario, we’ll be dispatching from a park bench.”
He said people have already called him about the loss of the office, and are helping to look into other options.
Boost from donors
After news got out Saturday about RIAC’s troubles, Rivera received a donation for $2,000 from Mark Ward of the Newfoundland International Student Education Program. Rivera said a $200 donation was also made through RIAC’s website, and a crowdfunding campaign is up and running on fundrazr.com.
The $2,000 donation would be enough to cover the next month’s rent, but long term, Rivera believes it will go further if they try to find a smaller, cheaper office.
Wherever RIAC ends up, Rivera said it will need more regular donors to help it sustain a monthly budget (new donors can visit riac.ca for more information).
“That way, we can focus on providing the services that are really needed, instead of hunting little donors here and pennies there, and scratching our heads every month — ‘what’s going to happen next?’
“The crucial element in all this story, is that we cannot hire personnel, prepare them, train them, get them qualified to bring the support, because we go on a monthly basis and that’s impossible.”
Rivera, whose family moved to Newfoundland from Colombia in 2002, said his biggest concern is for the newcomers who require RIAC’s support; that’s why he intends to keep on going.
“Who’s going to be out there for them?” he said.
“This is the best way for me to use my time, but most importantly, to pay back to Canada, as my wife and my two children came here as refugees in 2002. So we have 15 years of a wonderful life here, and we feel that we have to repay that.
“I feel that I am still a couple of pennies into what I owe to Canada.”
Twitter: @TelyLouis
