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Group continues their work to bring Syrian family to N.B.

Jun 20, 2016 | 8:04 AM

As today marks World Refugee Day, a Battlefords group continues their mission to bring a deserving Syrian family to the city.

Nicole Leinenweber, president of Living Skies Refuge, said today, June 20, is an important day to think about the 60 million people displaced around the world.  The Syrian family of four in the process of being sponsored by Living Skies is currently sharing an apartment in Iraq with as many as two other families. While their situation is not ideal, Leinenweber said it’s a far cry from where they came from.

“It’s been a real hotspot for ISIS,” she said. “The Allies have bombed in there; Kurdish people have tried to get that spot away from ISIS. So they left a really, really difficult situation to say the least.”

It’s expected the family will arrive in the Battlefords in early 2017, but Leinenweber said it could happen sooner, and possibly without warning. The Canadian Immigration Centre is processing the paperwork and doing security, safety, and health checks.

Two of the biggest hurdles; a long waiting list and the financial cost associated with the family’s move. Leinenweber said $18,000 has been raised so far.

“We’ll need to raise more money, but we will also need to raise in-kind donations, and we will need that closer to the time that they get here,” she explained. “What we’re hoping to do is raise enough money to sponsor them, in order to basically provide financially for them for the first year while they integrate into North Battleford.”

Leinenweber said the community response has been overwhelming, from donations to volunteers. The Seventh Day Adventist Church even suggested different groups in town to each sponsor and outfit a room in the family’s home.

Leinenweber said they’ve already learned from other refugee settlement efforts.

“One of the most important things is to socialize them in our community, and get them integrated as broadly as possible,” she explained. “I think it’ll be easier (in a smaller community) for sure. I think we’re a community that will come together and recognize that this family needs to be embraced and feel safe in our community.”

 

gsmith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @smithco