First Baptist's Refugee Committee has been active raising funds to bring refugees to Canada. In the early 1990's a Somali family of a mother and three daughters was safely established in the community. The Alemayehu family of Ethiopia arrived from a refugee camp in Kenya in time for our Easter Service in 2003. We welcomed Bekele and Nigat and the children, Kalab, Lydia and Rebeka.
In June 2009 the congregation voted to bring another refugee family to Halifax, this one from a soon to close refugee camp for displaced Palestinians on the border of Syria and Iraq. Fundraising for this ministry has been underway since the fall of 2008 and we hope to be able to welcome the family before the end of 2009. If you wish to contribute, you can do so here. There are also many ways in which a volunteer can help out - if you want to participate, contact Chair of the Refugee Committee, Elinor Nicoll.
EXCITING NEWS!
The Refugee Committee has decided to sponsor a Palestinian family of five. Our application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada was accepted in late August. The next step was up to the authorities in Damascus who had the power to approve or reject our application. We received their approval and travel arrangements are being made. We are expecting them by the end of October. Travel costs are paid by the Canadian government initially, but later, a bill is sent to the refugee family involved.
The family consists of the father, Mahoud, age 41, the mother, Manehel, age 28. and three children, two boys and a girl, ages 12, 8 and 5. Our family is one of six interrelated families looking for sponsors who might bring them to Halifax. One of the six has not yet found a sponsor. Other sponsors include Christians for Refugees, a local group who are sponsoring two small families, and two community groups, one originating in the Peace Coalition and another from the neighbourhood bounded by Mumford Road, Joe Howe Avenue and Bayer's Road.
If all goes well with the application, the family will arrive this fall meaning that preparations must begin soon. We will be asking for donations of clothing and furniture as soon as we are notified of the approval. A list of our needs will be made available at that time.
Preparing for the family and helping them adapt to their new country will require help beyond what the Refugee Committee can provide. Assistance has been offered from the Islamic community, but we need your help as well. Volunteers are needed to assist with everything from shopping for groceries to helping them cope with the bus system. No experience is required beyond a welcoming smile. Plans are afoot to provide helpful information to those who volunteer. As many of you know, volunteering brings great satisfaction to the volunteer as well as to those who receive the help. Why not give it a try? If you are interested contact committee members: Elinor Nicoll, Frank McGill, Margaret & Scott Sterns, Natasha Sider and Sheri Allen Lee.
As you may recall, our goal was to raise $25,000. To date, we have raised approximately $21,600. We are hopeful that the fund raiser on Oct. 16th and the generosity of our donors will bring us to our goal. We thank you for the interest you have taken in this project and the generosity you have shown.
top