Refugee Sponsorship
The Refugee Family Being Sponsored By Harcourt United Church
We have finally received word that a refugee family has received approval to come to Canada and to Guelph under our sponsorship.
They are Palestinians, a 26 year old father and his 19 year old wife along with their year old daughter and they will be arriving sometime soon, hopefully within 6 to 8 weeks.
Al-neiss Saher and his wife Qtaish Wala each fled Palestine with their families during the war with Israel. His family settled in Baghdad in Iraq but in 2006 Saher fled to Syria because he was being persecuted because he was a Palestinian. He returned early in 2007 because his mother was ill but once again was forced to leave and this time went to a refugee camp in Syria. Later in 2007 he was classified as a refugee by the United Nations Commissioner of Refugees.
Saher met his wife in the refugee camp in Syria where they married and they have a little daughter.
When they arrive in Canada we will be responsible for their care for up to 1 year.
A committee has been set up to help them get settled here in Guelph. We have found people who speak their language and who are willing to assist us in many ways.
Our first task will be to find temporary accommodation for them and for this we are looking to church members for assistance. Hopefully it will be a for a brief period, 2 weeks or less, until we are able to get them settled in a one bedroom apartment - funds are available to cover these costs as well as money for food and other necessities. If you would be able to provide temporary accommodation or know of someone who could, please get in touch with Norma Fear as soon as possible - phone 519-767-9060 or e-mail fearbeno@sympatico.ca . Also, if you know of an available one bedroom apartment, preferably near shopping and bus routes, please let Norma know also.
Some furnishings have been accumulated and shortly a list of items needed will be posted. In the meantime perhaps you could look to see what you might be able to contribute in the line of dishes, cooking utensils, pots and pans, linens and furniture.
We presume their knowledge of the English language will be limited although they both have had some education. Saher has worked as a construction worker over the years and this may be beneficial for finding employment once he has some language skills.
Let us welcome this family to Guelph and help them to enjoy a better life style and perhaps eventually become Canadian citizens.
Committee members include Ilona Dobos (chair), Earlla Vickers, Dianne Clarke, Stephen Norton, Peter Dobos, Hugh Whiteley, Michael Duden, Wendy Brown and Norma Fear.
