Mateo was a hardworking, single father. He struggled to find work and care for his daughter. His home country was not a safe place for either of them. Dreaming of a better life, free from fear, he sought to emigrate to Canada, where he thought that there would be more opportunities.
Through connections, Mateo met with someone who identified himself as an immigration agent. He said that he could set Mateo up with a good job where he will be able to provide a home for himself and his daughter.
Excited at this opportunity, he left his daughter with a cousin, and promised that he would send for her, as soon as he was established. The agent promised to keep in touch with Mateo’s daughter and act as a correspondent between the two.
With passport and contact information in hand, Mateo headed to Canada.
Mateo landed in Alberta, where he was met by a man who led him to an old school bus that was filled with other newcomers. Mateo was told that he and the others would be taken directly to a farm, where he could begin his new life. For security reasons, the Canadian agent required that Mateo give him his passport, so that the agent could process the appropriate paperwork to make everything legal.
At the farm, Mateo was ushered into a small trailer with two other men. The confined space consisted of half sheets of plywood for beds, with old sleeping bags for cushioning/bedding. The floor was littered with rodent droppings and discarded food bits.
Tired from his long journey, Mateo sent a quick message to the first agent, to let him know that he had arrived, and then, Mateo slept.
Morning came early and a small bowl of dry porridge, most likely made from the farm’s wheat, was thrust into Mateo’s face. “Eat!” came the command. “I want you out in the fields in 20 minutes.”
Mateo checked his phone, it was 4:40am. Nestled in the congregation of small trailers were two outhouses and a well pump for water. The lineups were long, but Mateo was excited for his new adventure, and the thought of having his daughter with him in their own apartment, kept his spirits up.
By day 30, Mateo’s spirits were less than elevated. Long days in the field, insufficient rations, and intimidating threats, made Mateo feel less than hopeful. The fact that Mateo hadn’t seen his passport and other credentials since the airport, made the thought of leaving seem impossible.
Mateo’s cousin didn’t have phone service, so Mateo relied on the agent for updates on his daughter. The agent assured Mateo that his daughter was being well looked after. That eased some of Mateo’s worry.
One evening, Mateo mentioned to the agent that work conditions were poor and that Mateo had yet to see the pay that he was promised. Mateo wished to leave and seek other employment. One stern reply from the agent crushed Mateo’s dreams of leaving: “You will stay where you are and do what you are told, or there will be serious consequences for your daughter.”
The only bright light was that Mateo got along with his bunkmates. One drove the tractor, the other worked in pest control, while Mateo worked the fields. Things changed when the tractor operator was beaten, in front of the other workers, for taking too long to refuel the tractor. This led to a daring plan to escape.
The tractor operator knew where all of the keys to the farming equipment were kept, including the keys to the dilapidated pickup that the foreman drove. At 1am the following night, Mateo and his two bunkmates made their escape.
Between the three of them, they were able to get enough fuel to make it into BC, where they ditched the vehicle and decided that it was best for them to go their separate ways.
Disguising himself the best that he could, Mateo began hitchhiking. It wasn’t long before a vehicle with three free-spirited young men offered him a ride. They were heading to Vancouver on a cross-country trip. Mateo didn’t really know anything about Vancouver, but was happy to venture there.
Along the way, the young men asked Mateo questions about who he was and where he was going. When he told the young men that he didn’t have a place to stay, when he got to Vancouver, the men pulled out their phones and began searching.
One recommendation that their search yielded was Covenant House Vancouver. Mateo was within their age mandate of 16 to 24 years of age, so he was willing to check them out.
Mateo was met with a warm smile at Covenant House Vancouver (CHV). After a brief intake, Mateo was offered a bed in their Crisis Program. After a much-needed shower and a hearty meal, Mateo rested for several days.
When he was ready, Mateo was shown around CHV’s facilities and introduced to his social worker. Mateo was very anxious to talk with his social worker, for he feared for his daughter. After many phone calls, Mateo was assured that his cousin and daughter were taken to a safe location, away from the agent. CHV also connected Mateo to the VPD’s Human Trafficking Unit, so that he could report his experiences in Alberta and provide information about the agents who were behind the labour trafficking.
The next order of business was to work on getting Mateo identification and to begin his refugee application. The refugee process is long and laborious, as it involves lawyers, court dates, and lots of paperwork. Mateo was told that the average processing time was 24 months. Undeterred, and with the help from CHV staff, Mateo meticulously filled out the paperwork and attended every hearing. As processes started to fall into place, and the fact that he could now communicate with his daughter directly, Mateo began to slowly relax.
As his strength and optimism began to return, Mateo was anxious to find work and bring his daughter over. While waiting for the immigration process to move forward, with the help of CHV staff and volunteers, Mateo began to work on his English skills. He also really enjoyed the gym, the outings, and the nutritious meals.
When Mateo’s affairs were in order and he was able to seek employment, his youth worker helped him create his resume and cover letter, as well as helped him to prepare for interviews. Mateo had always been good with his hands and thought that a job in construction would be a good avenue to pursue, given the rapid growth of Vancouver.
To help Mateo get a job in construction, CHV helped him obtain certifications like WHIMIS and first aid. It wasn’t long before Mateo received his first job. His smile lit up the halls of CHV as he left for work each day.
To help Mateo prepare for living in the community, CHV helped Mateo with life skills such as learning how to budget, shop, and rent in Vancouver.
Finally, the day came where Mateo was ready to move out into the community, and where he could begin the newcomer process for his daughter.
With a tearful smile, Mateo said goodbye to the staff who helped him along his arduous journey.
For the next couple of years, Mateo would send a letter around the holiday times, to let staff know how he and his daughter were doing. In his last correspondence, Mateo shared exciting news. Through government funding, Mateo was able to obtain a place in a local daycare for his daughter, and he had decreased his hours at work. To help with expenses, Mateo had gotten a roommate. The big news was that Mateo had decided to go back to school and begin the next chapter of his life.
Note: This is a composite story that reflects the experiences of multiple youth while protecting individual privacy.