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In 2016, the Uptown West Neighbourhood Association (UWNA) raised funds and sponsored a lovely family who were Syrian refugees to resettle in Canada. The family has accomplished so much in five years. They all started school, the husband acquired a trade and gained employment, and most exciting of all, they had a baby!
We recognize that one of the tragedies of war is the separation of families. The first family we sponsored has family members who are still refugees in Lebanon. The husbands are cousins, and the couples both married and started families around the same time. The Canadian family is heartbroken that their cousins and two young daughters are still refugees sheltering in Lebanon. They have asked for our help to sponsor this family so the families can be reunited.
The wife's journey has been a difficult one. She fled Syria with her family in 2015. Her father, who worked in a state-run hospital, was kidnapped and murdered by ISIS. Their family home was bombed, and they were forced to run for their lives. After making their way to Lebanon, she met her husband, a pacifist who also fled Syria. They fell in love, married, and they now have two lovely young girls, ages 4 and 1. But life has been tough in Lebanon.
The plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is well documented. The Lebanese government does not allow refugees to work. Even informal work is difficult to find. Shortages have raised the price of food 400% over the last couple of years. Extreme poverty and lack of food is rampant. As conditions worsen, they are concerned for their family’s safety and well-being, and they hope for a better life for their young girls.
We have an opportunity to enter into a Sponsorship Agreement with an Anglican Church Diocese. The cost of sponsoring a family of four is $30,000. We have already raised $10,000 from a few individuals who have agreed to contribute seed money to start the neighbourhood refugee fundraising campaign. We are seeking to raise an additional $20,000 to cover the costs of the sponsorship.
Our first sponsorship in 2016 was an immensely positive undertaking for the neighbourhood. A wide array of neighbours and friends came together to fundraise and help resettle the family. Those involved felt we got back so much more than we gave. It was a true privilege to help change the lives of one family in 2016. With your financial support, we can help change the lives of a second family.
On behalf of both families, we thank you.
Please note, we have removed the names of individuals in our Go Fund me to protect their privacy. We can provide more details upon request by contacting Uptown West Neighbourhood Association.
We recognize that one of the tragedies of war is the separation of families. The first family we sponsored has family members who are still refugees in Lebanon. The husbands are cousins, and the couples both married and started families around the same time. The Canadian family is heartbroken that their cousins and two young daughters are still refugees sheltering in Lebanon. They have asked for our help to sponsor this family so the families can be reunited.
The wife's journey has been a difficult one. She fled Syria with her family in 2015. Her father, who worked in a state-run hospital, was kidnapped and murdered by ISIS. Their family home was bombed, and they were forced to run for their lives. After making their way to Lebanon, she met her husband, a pacifist who also fled Syria. They fell in love, married, and they now have two lovely young girls, ages 4 and 1. But life has been tough in Lebanon.
The plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is well documented. The Lebanese government does not allow refugees to work. Even informal work is difficult to find. Shortages have raised the price of food 400% over the last couple of years. Extreme poverty and lack of food is rampant. As conditions worsen, they are concerned for their family’s safety and well-being, and they hope for a better life for their young girls.
We have an opportunity to enter into a Sponsorship Agreement with an Anglican Church Diocese. The cost of sponsoring a family of four is $30,000. We have already raised $10,000 from a few individuals who have agreed to contribute seed money to start the neighbourhood refugee fundraising campaign. We are seeking to raise an additional $20,000 to cover the costs of the sponsorship.
Our first sponsorship in 2016 was an immensely positive undertaking for the neighbourhood. A wide array of neighbours and friends came together to fundraise and help resettle the family. Those involved felt we got back so much more than we gave. It was a true privilege to help change the lives of one family in 2016. With your financial support, we can help change the lives of a second family.
On behalf of both families, we thank you.
Please note, we have removed the names of individuals in our Go Fund me to protect their privacy. We can provide more details upon request by contacting Uptown West Neighbourhood Association.