An update from our Refugee Committee – December 27, 2019
- The refugee committee continues its efforts to bring people to safety.
- Jean B who has been attending our services regularly as a Unitarian is finally settled, sharing a 2 bedroom suite in Surrey with Jean Pierre, a friend .They are both working full time at Amazon in Delta. J B is registered for English classes .He is already at level 4 which means he has already a significant knowledge of English.
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We were given 10 spaces for the last few months of 2019 to apply for sponsorships. We proceeded immediately to have a Syrian family of 5 plus their friend to apply. We have been accepted as their sponsor.
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We also put an application for 3 Eritrean single young men and we also have been accepted as their sponsors. This is the first step for the file to go to the required embassies abroad (Aman and Tel Aviv respectively).
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We had one spot left and we are sending an application for one young Syrian man refugee in the Emirates.
This completes our allocations given for this year to us as a New SAH (Sponsorship Agreement Holder). In 2020, we will be receiving some allocations. We do not know yet how many but we have to start fund raising if we are to continue bringing people to safety. It requires $16,500 for one individual to support them for one year which is what we are required to do minus some deductions if furniture etc.. is donated.
We are going to need everyone support in this endeavour. Julia has a table at church every Sunday. We will organize some events during the year. Everyone is welcome to bring their ideas and join the fund raising spearheaded by Catherine Stewart. We have wonderful dedicated refugee committee members .We welcome anybody who wants to join or know more about what we are doing.
For 2020, we would like to be able to bring our
Unitarian Burundians refugees in Rwanda who are in a very precarious situation and precarious safety as the militia cross the border easily to target them .We have been recommended by Fulgence, Burundian refugee Reverend in Saskatoon who is now a permanent resident of Canada.
You can also always make donations to the Sheilah Thompson Refugee Fund in which case you will receive a tax receipt.
Thank you for all your help. A very special thank you to Karen Brumelle who donated her art and raised funds for the refugee committee.
If we get extra spaces we will be preparing applications for a family of five and a family of four as long as we can raise the necessary funds.
– from Huguette.
See also
the group that Paul Prescod is involved with supporting.
Stop by the
Refugee Committee‘s fundraising table any Sunday or contact the committee to support, donate or ask questions.
