Our Syrian refugee family has finally arrived! Azad, Helwa, Aya (4) and Pella (1 1/2) arrived at YVR on Thursday April 13, 2017. On April 12 they boarded a plane in Erbil, Iraq and flew Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and then on to Toronto. They went through customs and rested overnight in Toronto and flew to Vancouver the morning of April 13, 2017. Here they are with KathleenMacKinnon, Chair of the Refugee Sponsorship Committee.
About ten of us of us were there to greet them as they arrived accompanied by two members of the settlement service, SUCCESS. After Kathleen signed the documents accepting responsibility for the family for a year and confirming their new status as Permanent Residents of Canada, they were released into our care.
We all went back to the Twin Rainbows apartment for a celebratory feast lovingly prepared by Rojin Hassan, Azad’s cousin who lives in Vancouver.
Later Rami and Sedar arrived with Lilyan and Rosel and we had a total of 6 little girls (all under 5) in the apartment. The family is lovely lovely lovely! The girls are beautiful as you can see in the photos.
Helwa is super shy. Azad is quite outgoing. Both are overwhelmed with everything we have provided for them and just for the fact they are finally here and feel safe.
We still need a few items for the apartment after all. Susan Wright, the head of our ‘stocking’ committee, will send out a list of what is needed shortly should you have any of these items or know where we can get them. The less we have to pay for items like this, the more we have to support the family over this next year.
Thank you for your ongoing and generous support. The family was speechless with the apartment and all that is in it – all contributions from you and your families and neighbours.
They would welcome a visit from you at any time as is their custom. Please do not be shy. If you would like an introduction first, please let Wes or I, or another member of our committee, know and we would be happy to meet you at the apartment and introduce you to the family.
With deepest appreciation,
Kathleen MacKinnon, Chair
Refugee Sponsorship Committee
False Creek South Neighbourhood Association
