Within a few short months, a Syrian refugee family will call Jasper home thanks to a determined group of residents who have offered to resettle the family and help them escape Syria’s civil war.
It’s unclear when the family of three will arrive, but it could be as soon as next month, although it could also be as late as the spring.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Nancy Addison, who is spearheading the initiative with Dave Neilson.
“I think when you do something for someone else you get more out of it then you put in it.”
To prepare for the family’s arrival, a group of 30 residents got together on Nov. 5 to discuss how to fundraise money to support the family. It is estimated it will cost around $30,000 to support the family for the first year, although Addison said she doesn’t think it will cost that much.
“I think we can do it cheaper,” she said, adding if the group can collect enough used furniture, clothing and other household supplies from the community it will help keep the costs down.
Dave and Eness Hamdi have offered to host the family free of charge until March 1, which will buy the group some time to find a longer, more permanent solution.
“Every night we would watch the news, we would see and listen to the problems and wondered how we could help, but we didn’t know how,” said Dave Hamdi, whose family roots are Egyptian.
“When Nancy put this up on Facebook it was like our opportunity came to us.
“Jasper is the perfect setting. It’s a tight knit community and I think people will welcome them and embrace them really quickly,” he said.
To get to this point in the process, Addison first approached St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church to ask if they would support a refugee family. The motion was passed unanimously.
From there she approached the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which has been sponsoring refugees for more than 30 years. With the help of Gail Millard, who is the Diocese’s refugee coordinator, the two went through several applicants and finally landed on a family currently seeking refuge in the neighbouring mountains of Lebanon.
According to their short profiles, Hassan El Azem is 64 years old and was a civil engineer until his building was bombed. His wife, Omayea Elmarawi, 60, was a teacher and their daughter Reham Al Azem, 30, graduated from Damascus University in Syria in 2009, and worked as a lawyer at the Syrian International Islamic Bank until April 2015.
Rehem was ecstatic when she heard the news that her family had been invited to come to Jasper.
“I really appreciate your efforts,” she wrote in an email to Addison. “ After a long night of thinking and sharing the latest quick updates with my sister, brother and my parents ... [I’m] happy to say we all are so excited to see Jasper city, and meet new people. I know at the beginning [it] will be a big challenge for us to start [a] new life in [a] new country, but I’m sure that God responded to my prayers.”
During the meeting last week Addison said she is confident the family will do well in Jasper.
“From the letters Reham has written, she feels an obligation to take care of her parents,” said Addison. “She’s not going to desert them. She’s written she won’t leave them and that they’ll never be a burden on society. They’re willing to do any kind of work and will start working as soon as they’re here. I think they’re really good people, just from the letters I’ve read.”
Hamdi echoed Addison’s comments.
“Looking at their education tells me they are probably proud people and they’re not going to sit around and look for hand outs. They’re going to hit the ground running,” said Hamdi, who also speaks Arabic, which will come in handy when the family first arrives.
News that Jasper will soon welcome a Syrian refugee family comes as the federal government prepares to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees in the coming months. The Liberals promised to do so by Christmas.
To help raise money to support the family, a trust fund has been set up with the Servus Credit Union in Jasper.
People who would like to donate money and don’t need a charitable receipt may do so by donating to the “Jasper Syrian Refugee Fund” at the Jasper branch.
For those who would like a charitable receipt, they can forward their donation to the Anglican Church’s “Jasper Syrian Refugee Fund.” To do so, mail cheques to The Parish of St Mary & St George at Box 1537 or hand deliver them to Rev. Keith Marsh or the parish’s treasurer, Bryn Thomas.
Organizers ask that donations are made out to the “Jasper Syrian Refugee Fund” and clearly indicate the name and mailing address of the donor.
The first fundraiser in support of the family will be held on Nov. 14 and is an hour and half yoga class at Karouzos Steakhouse. The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and organizers are asking people to donate money or non-perishable food items.
Organizers also intend to host a story night at the Downstream Restaurant and Lounge near the end of November and intend to start a coin drive at local businesses to help raise additional money.
Details about those events will be made public in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, the group is looking for silent auction items for two upcoming events. To donate, contact Wendy Kellis at [email protected] or Joan Dillon at [email protected].
For more information about upcoming events, visit the group’s Facebook page: Bring Syrian Family to Jasper.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
