Two years ago, our extended family here in Canada made the decision to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. After many months of planning and waiting, a family of four arrived in Edmonton, Alberta. The family fled their hometown of Homs in 2015. The turning point was when their children's school was bombed. They could no longer stay in the city and risk their children's lives. Like so many others, they fled to Lebanon and applied to come to Canada.
Over the past year, our family's sponsorship group has helped the parents enroll in English classes; helped the children with homework; learn how to drive in Canada; join soccer teams; explore Edmonton's festivals; develop Canadian resumes; volunteer at local non-profits; and set down roots in their new community. The parents have both made rapid progress in English, but they know it will take time to become fluent. They are hard-working, deeply kind and gentle people. The father now has a part-time job and the mother tells us "they are very different here. They are always happy now."
How can you help?
Let us plant a tree for you in the City of Edmonton along Terwillegar Drive at a cost of $3.99 per tree (plus pesky GST). Then you get to plant the matching virtual tree online here and share it as a thoughtful Christmas gift or just to make sure you are Santa's nice list. You'll be restoring forest habitat right here in Canada and $2.00 per tree will go towards helping Syrian newcomer families in Edmonton. The first $3500.00 raised will go to the Syrian newcomer family our extended family has sponsored throughout the immigration process. Any amount raised above that will go to help other newcomer Syrian families being assisted by the Anglican Diocese of Alberta (they have several).
