Over the past five years, a small group of Winnipeg friends has worked to sponsor and settle three Syrian refugee families (including 20 children and youth!) in our city. Thanks to all of you who’ve been part of this profound journey of hope so far.
This year, we’re once again partnering with our Syrian friends and the Diocese of Rupertsland to sponsor 22-year-old Nawal’s fiancé, Emad, who lost his father in the war when he was only 15 and has been living as a refugee in Beirut for the past seven years, and our friend Safaa’s youngest brother, Mahmoud, who, along with his wife and four little girls, has been living as a refugee in rural Turkey since 2013.
While no longer making many headlines, the situation for Syrian refugees in both Lebanon and Turkey had been growing more perilous by the day even before the pandemic hit.
Today, young lives already defined by too much loss are left facing year after year of increasing trial and uncertainty.
That’s why we do this. Sponsorship and settlement are no easy task. It takes plenty of money and time and commitment. And we can’t help everybody.
But we CAN help one family at a time. And for those we do, it means the difference between having a future – the ability to plan and dream and give back – and nothing but blunt day-to-day survival.
We expect Emad and Mahmoud and his family to arrive sometime in the next 6-12 months.
Every cent of every dollar raised through donations and fundraisers like the auction goes towards making sure they have adequate housing, clothing, food, school supplies, etc. for their first year here.
Help us give them the warmest of Winnipeg welcomes!
Project Reunite 