Decades ago, in the 1970s, in the midst of the Vietnamese Boat People refugee crisis, a small group of volunteers in Kamloops came together with a powerful vision: to welcome refugees not as strangers, but as friends.
Fifty years on, Refugees and Friends Together — known lovingly as RAFT — celebrates a decade of transforming lives and building bridges in the heart of British Columbia.
RAFT’s journey began with a simple, yet profound belief: that no one should have to start over alone. Over the decades this grassroots non-profit has walked hand-in-hand with dozens of refugees, helping them find homes, learn English, access education, and feel at home in a new land. Every warm greeting, every shared meal, every job found, or child enrolled in school is a quiet act of resistance against fear, and a loud declaration of compassion.
To mark World Refugee Day, RAFT is inviting the entire community to an educational and entertainment event on June 14 at the Kamloops Farmers’ Market on St Paul Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. It’s a chance to celebrate culture, resilience, and the shared humanity that binds us together. The event intends to shine a light on refugee experiences — and the incredible strength it takes to start again.
In an age when immigrants and refugees often find themselves battling bias and misinformation, RAFT’s work couldn’t be more urgent. Their mission, powered entirely by volunteers, pushes back against fear with understanding and replaces suspicion with friendship.
RAFT is currently applying with the federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to bring refugees to Kamloops. The support of our community will ensure the work will continue and the newcomers will succeed when they arrive.
As we recognize World Refugee Day on June 20, Kamloops can be proud to stand with RAFT — ten years strong and still growing. Because when we open our hearts and homes to others, we don’t just change their lives, we transform our own.
Learn more or get involved at raftkamloops.org or email at [email protected]
Submitted by Mujtaba Tabrez