SYRIAN REFUGEE PROJECT

                               

To date, RUC and friends have raised $44,539.78.  Together with New Vision United Church of Canada in Hamilton, ON, we have met and surpassed our goal!  The Syrian Refugee family of 6, are now settled in Hamilton ON.

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We are thankful to God that our newcomer family, jointly sponsored by NVUC in Hamilton and Rockville United Church in Maryland, arrived in Toronto from Turkey on May 10, 2022, after a wait of more than 5 years. This has been a journey and exercise of faith. During that period, the file had to be updated for various reasons, two more children were born, and very little to no progress was made during the pandemic. However, the parents and children ages 8, 6, and 4  finally arrived at their new home in Hamilton on May 10, 2022.

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From the funds raised by Rockville and NVUC, we provided start-up money for food, kitchen equipment, bedding, winter clothing and other items, and are administering a stipend in accord with government minimum recommendations (www.rstp.ca). NVUC folks and Kirkendall community members cleaned and outfitted the home in advance of the family’s arrival. Many household items were procured through NVUC folks and the Kirkendall group.

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​A baby daughter was born in mid-July. The older three children started attending school in September. The family’s co-sponsors have provided moral support, banking help, transportation for shopping and appointments since the family’s arrival. The father walks downtown to ESL classes at St. Charles Continuing and Adult Education and is making plans to get his G1 driver’s license. The family was promptly confronted with some formidable Canadian tradition when their son’s teacher gave the family a Christmas tree.

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Since the family’s arrival, putting government services in place has proven difficult. The Permanent Resident cards for three family members are still pending and Federal and provincial Child Benefits have not yet started for any of the children, despite applications that were submitted in July. We understand these benefits are now slated to start “within 14 weeks”.  As a result of the delays, NVUC has provided periodic top-ups from our refugee funds to the family. The UCC requires regular reports on the sponsorship. I submitted these at the one-month and four-month marks.

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Big thank yous to so many people in Canada and Maryland who worked to make this possible. Note that in addition to covering the sponsorship year in Canada, sponsorship funds were used to support the family for over three years in Turkey. Without the overseas support, they would not be here. The Lord’s blessings on you all.

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​It would be lovely to have a formal get-together with our new family and folks from NVUC and Rockville United before the sponsorship ends on May 9, 2023, as there was no suitable time to host a welcome party in 2022.​