We have watched in horror and sorrow as the situation in Syria has gone from bad to worse over the past few years. It is so easy to feel helpless when things happen on the other side of the world.
When our congregation voted unanimously in favour of helping a family of refugees come to Canada from Syria, it gave us all the chance to do something positive in this terrible situation! Our congregation has sponsored three refugee families over the last few decades. Instead of being frustrated at our inability to help, we can work towards making things better!
It has been four long years since the civil war began. The UN's Refugee Agency says 3.7 million people have fled Syria to neighbouring countries, and over half of those refugees are children.
Canada has promised to resettle more than 10,000 refugees, but those families will need help once they arrive here. Our congregation needs to raise at least $40,000 to resettle a family.
Talek, Walaa and their 2 little daughters Sedana (aged 4) and Nawal (aged 2) escaped from Syria about 2 years ago. Talek had done his time in the Syrian army however when he was called up a second time to support the Syrian regime, he knew he couldn’t do what he would be expected to do. He knew he had to flee the country. They made it to Lebanon, and are now about an hour outside of Beirut.
In Syria, Talek worked as a carpenter with his dad. In Lebanon he struggles to find ways to support his family and relies on the meager UN allowance to buy food. Walaa, a hairdresser by profession worries about how her children will go to school. There is no school for the refugee children in Lebanon. Anger towards the influx of Syrian refugees makes it unsafe for Walaa to be on the street alone.
Please help us as we work towards this goal!
