Local groups hoping to sponsor refugees are ramping up their efforts, now that Ottawa has outlined its plans to welcome 25 thousand Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of February.
While the spotlight is on Syria, Nanaimo’s Neighbourhood Church has chosen to sponsor a family from Eritrea.
“There have been many refugees from other parts of the world waiting for quite some time for sponsorship,” he says. “They (the sponsors) felt that with the spotlight being on the Syrian refugees it would be worth our while to consider someone from another country that might otherwise be neglected.”
At least two groups on the Sunshine Coast are hoping to be sponsors.
Susan Telfer is with the Friends of St. John’s Refugee Action Committee. She says Canada hasn’t always been welcoming to refugees – but this is a time to be on the right side of History.
“We want to be part of a history that helps refugees,” she says. “And doesn’t just stand by and do nothing; or worse.”
Telfer also says based on the community’s experience sponsoring Tibetan refugees in the past their Committee is confident about raising the money they’ll need, but they’ll also need other support.
People can find out more at the Committee’s first public meeting Friday at 7pm, at St. John’s United Church.
Christian Life Assembly in Gibsons is also working to be a sponsor.
Pastor Jaz Ghag says they’re getting help from their national organization, and the response locally has been very positive, “We’ve had lots of great calls from people all across the coast, just saying hey, we want to help. We have some housing… we have room in our home… and a variety of different things.”
You can find out more on their efforts here.
(image courtesy Government of Canada)
