Tesfazgi Asgedom came to Canada three years ago. Before that, he spent more than a decade in Israel, living without status and under the constant threat of deportation. His harrowing journey to safety began in Eritrea and took him through Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, and the Sinai Desert before reaching Israel. He was placed on conditional release, which allowed him to stay in Israel temporarily but without stability or fundamental rights.
It was in Israel that Tesfazgi first learned what advocacy meant. In Eritrea, he had never seen people speak up for themselves, let alone for others. However, in Israel, he encountered people dedicated to protecting the rights of asylum seekers. Tesfazgi joined them and learned that advocacy didn’t require power—only purpose and a willingness to act.
It took more than ten years to find someone willing to sponsor him and give him a chance at a new life. That opportunity arose through a combination of support: a family member already in Canada, JIAS, and a volunteer group called the Canadians Helping Asylum-Seekers in Israel (CHAI).
The CHAI group is a Jewish group that supports Eritrean and other refugees coming from Israel. In Hebrew, “chai” means life—an apt term for the second chances the group has created for the numerous refugees it has supported over the years. The CHAI group helped arrange for Tesfazgi to live rent-free for a year in shared accommodation with three other Eritrean men. The group supported his adjustment to Canadian life, prepared him for employment, and encouraged him to imagine a new future. With further guidance from a JIAS settlement worker and other staff, Tesfazgi began to shape his goals and take his next steps.
He decided to train as a settlement worker, inspired by those who helped him, and applied to work at JIAS. He views the role as a form of advocacy, assisting clients to become independent by increasing their access to information, speaking on their behalf to institutions, and providing much-needed referrals to other agencies.
Tesfazgi remembers his first client—a Ukrainian family of five, only one of whom spoke English. They had questions about housing, healthcare, education, and employment—areas Tesfazgi had once navigated himself. He helped them secure an apartment, register for government services, and start building a new life. Over time, the family adjusted. One member became a dental hygienist. Another, after just 18 months, was accepted into PSW training—an achievement made possible by a significant commitment to learning the English language. It was a turning point for both his client and himself.
Tesfazgi had come to Canada as a refugee. He had received help from volunteers and professionals at JIAS. Now, he was the one providing support. And while he had expected to help members of his Eritrean community, this experience showed him that his skills could extend far beyond. It marked the true beginning of his mission to give back, not just through shared experience but through a commitment to helping others move forward.
