A few refugees who have escaped war-torn Syria may soon find a safe haven in the Energy City.
A local committee, Neighbours Helping Neighbours, is taking on the task of paving the way for a refugee family or two who are looking for a new life in a safe environment after being forced out of former grand cities such as Aleppo and Damascus in Syria.
Emily Gillies and Barry Harris have lent their organizational talents to the committee with the hopes that a cadre of eager volunteers will join them and assume more specific supporting roles once the details of the arrivals are revealed.
The committee already has access to $15,000 in seed money, but up to $100,000 may be required to ensure a successful settlement over the course of a year. That is what a steering committee in Weyburn has discovered as they welcome up to four Syrian families.
“I hope we can parallel their success,” said Gillies, referring to successful Weyburn fundraising efforts and re-settlement efforts.
Since Neighbours Helping Neighbours is affiliated with the Southeast Rural Resource Centre, which is a registered charity, donations to the Syrian refugee cause are tax deductable.
A second organizational meeting was slated for March 29, following the informational meeting of March 22, which attracted about 20 interested potential volunteers.
Harris said the small group held their first informal meeting to discuss the potential of a refugee asylum program in the latter part of 2015 and they have since moved forward cautiously but firmly.
The Estevan group does not qualify for the federal government resettlement assistance program which has now closed since their mandate to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada for re-settlement, has completed. Most of those refugees have found safe landing places in larger centres such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
A basic financial target of $27,000 has to be achieved in order to qualify for a modest program to assist a small family group, but Harris and Gillies said the expectations are for between 14 and 20 Syrian refugees so they can support one another while they get accustomed to a new language and all kinds of cultural changes in their new surroundings.
“If we can do that, instead of having one family come and then try to bring in more family members in two or three layers, it would be preferable,” said Harris, adding that connection to the community would no doubt be smoother, too.
The first difficult requirement of original housing for refugees, is already taken care of through Suburban Extended Stay Hotel and their manager Ruth Wall, who said her company has agreed to provide accommodations for the newcomers in extended stay suites until local, affordable more permanent housing is found, according to the family needs.
Gillies added that other support systems are in place on the health front since some doctors, pharmacists and other health-care professionals in the city know the Arabic language. She also noted that volunteer Waed Dakkak has agreed to serve the group as their translator as the new arrivals set up a new lifestyle that will include the need to enroll in English as Another Language classes either as adults or within the elementary and secondary school system, obtain a driver’s license and health card or perhaps seek avenues in which their professional skills can be confirmed, tested and certified.
“That all takes time, often six months or more and that’s being done while they’re learning a new language in some instances,” said Gillies, whose previous work as an immigration officer taught her that there were many nuances to settling into an entirely new environment.
EAL instructors at Southeast College and South East Cornerstone Public School Division have assured their services will be available, as has the Community Advocates for Employment.
“It could be controversial because, right now, there are people out there now looking for work with the economic downturn. Some will looking for work, as will the newcomers. But the resources are there for everyone and our economy will trend toward change again,” said Gillies.
The Estevan office of Southeast Newcomers Services is also on board, said their spokeswoman Debbie Hagel.
“Some of these refugees have owned businesses in Syria, and they’ve lost them as well as their homes,” said Harris.
“Bringing in refugees is not new. Canada brings in thousands every year, so in many ways this is no different,” said Gillies, noting that most Syrians are well educated and enjoyed strong infrastructure systems prior to the war that has now stretched out over several years and has escalated in the past couple of years due to the arrival and influence of ISIS.
The Weyburn committee, they noted, has received the support of the Western Baptist congregations and the refugee application system moves more smoothly with church-sponsored backing, so that avenue will be explored.
“We do open our doors in this province, in this country,” said Gillies, adding she felt some fundraising efforts in Estevan could reap as much success as their counterparts in Weyburn who netted over $15,000 at a recent fundraising dinner.
“We don’t have any specific format for fundraising yet,” she said.
Following the March 29 meeting, the local committee said they would probably be prepared to make an official application and see what matchups could be made.
There are several steps to make, but Gillies and Harris agreed that from what they have learned, “it’s not a lengthy process,” but one that requires all details to be met.
“We’re ready in many respects. We have original housing looked after, we have people available to hold their hands and help them get acquainted with the community and we have people ready to help them learn a new language, get enrolled in school, do some shopping, get ready for a new life,” said Gillies. “We can do this with some open minds, positive atmospheres, a little conversation and by staying connected.”
