WHO WE ARE

Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST)

In 1986 human rights activists and mental health workers in Vancouver joined together to support an influx of refugees arriving from armed conflicts in South and Central America. Together, they founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), creating what would become Western Canada's refugee mental health hub. Today, VAST works with refugees from more than 100 countries. Our programs and services are offered in more than a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian, Mandarin and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

CAREERS

Work at VAST

Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for over 35 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. We do not believe in working alone and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. VAST is a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.

OPEN POSITIONS

Be our next volunteer

We are looking for a minimum of a 6-month commitment from a Volunteer. This is the amount of time that it takes to get to know our work, clients, team, and for them to develop comfort with a new person, and for you to become high functioning in your role and for the training we provide you to be a smart investment for all.

If you are interested in volunteering with VAST, let's apply it!

APPLY for volunteer

VAST STAFF

VAST amazing team

Board of Directors

Amelia

Amelia

Board Secretary

Amita

Amita

Board Member

Ken

Ken

Board Member

Matthew

Matthew

Co-Chair

Muna

Muna

Board Member

Nick

Nick

Treasurer

Sediqa

Sediqa

Board Member

Sonya

Sonya

Co-Chair

Staff

Airam

Airam

Community Engagement Team Worker

Atousa

Atousa

Associate Director

Basir

Basir

CET Farsi & Dari

Elena

Elena

Expressive Arts Therapist

Farooq

Farooq

Editor In Chief of Voices Against Torture

Frank

Frank

Executive Director

Hosnia

Hosnia

Community Engagement Worker and Interpreter

Jhevoi

Jhevoi

Social Worker

Luke

Luke

Expressive Arts Therapist

Maria

Maria

Development Associate

Maria

Maria

Clinical Counsellor

Mariana

Mariana

Clinical Supervisor

Matias

Matias

Expressive Arts Therapist and Clinical Counsellor

Maya

Maya

Community Engagement Team Worker - Farsi & Dari

Nasra

Nasra

Development Manager

Rawan

Rawan

Community Engagement Worker and Group Facilitator

Sediqa

Sediqa

Community Engagement and Research Worker

Yevgeniya (Jane)

Yevgeniya (Jane)

Admin Associate

Contractors

Alana

Alana

Outdoors Coordinator

Alka

Alka

Business Strategist

Anderson

Anderson

Website Designer

Carolina

Carolina

Youth Outreach Associate

Debi

Debi

Group Co-Facilitator

Fatima

Fatima

Co-facilitator for Survivors Advocate Program

Hugo

Hugo

Clinical Consellor

Jamal

Jamal

Clinical Consellor

Justin

Justin

Co-facilitator for Survivors Advocate Program

Laura

Laura

Outreach Associate

Minoo

Minoo

Clinical Counsellor

Tetiana

Tetiana

Yaimel

Yaimel

Graphic Designer

Interpreters

Celyne

Celyne

Interpreter

Faustin

Faustin

Interpreter

Hasti

Hasti

Interpreter

Heyin

Heyin

Interpreter

Ibrahim

Ibrahim

Interpreter

Jagjot

Jagjot

Interpreter

Jolie

Jolie

Interpreter

Lauren

Lauren

Interpreter

Maria Victoria

Maria Victoria

Interpreter

Marian

Marian

Interpreter

Nizar

Nizar

Interpreter

Olena

Olena

Interpreter

Ozlem

Ozlem

Interpreter

Samsam

Samsam

Interpreter

Spozhmay

Spozhmay

Interpreter

Volunteers

Andres

Andres

Volunteer

Hanwei

Hanwei

Voices Against Torture

Jagdeep

Jagdeep

Community Kitchen

James

James

Voices Against Torture

Leila

Leila

Voices Against Torture

Moustafa

Moustafa

IT Support

Rahul

Rahul

Psychiatrist

Wakana

Wakana

UX/UI and Web Designer

Editorial Board Members - Voices Against Torture

Fizza

Fizza

Editorial Board Member

Hammad

Hammad

Editorial Board Member

Malik

Malik

Editorial Board Member

Patrick

Patrick

Editorial Board Member

Poulomee

Poulomee

Editorial Board Member

Rubina

Rubina

Editorial Board Member

Shazia

Shazia

Editorial Board Member

Wajid

Wajid

Editorial Board Member

Past Volunteers

Since 1986, VAST has had hundreds of committed, skillful volunteers helping to bring our mission to life. Below is a short alphabetical list of some of our volunteers. If you have been a volunteer in the past, we would love to hear from you, please reach out to our ED: frank@vastbc.ca