By Connie Tabbert
Editor
BEACHBURG — A Beachburg area woman is hoping to raise $12,000 within a short period of time.
This money will be used to sponsor a refugee family of three.
The United Church of Canada has a refugee settlement agreement with the Government of Canada, said Lee Torvi, who resides on Indian Road. A request was sent to all United Church presbyteries, which are groups of churches within certain areas, asking them to consider sponsoring refugees who are on a list. The list, which has about 80 names, was divided by country. With what’s been happening in Syria, Ms. Torvi checked the refugees in that country, because many in the B’hai faith are being persecuted. She then selected a few cases from other countries that seemed urgent and she knew there were resources within this area to help them out. None of those have severe health issues, she said. She also decided those who were victims of torture should go to cities where support services are available.
Ms. Torvi decided on a family of three women from Iran, a mom and two daughters. Explaining the situation, she said, a university student in Iran accepted an invitation to attend a home church. She liked the group and the religion, so she invited her mother and sister to go as well. When the university authorities found out, she was expelled from the university. More ominously, village authorities began searching for them all, but they escaped to Turkey before they were imprisoned. They are a mother in her early 40s and her two daughters in their 20s. The mother has a high school education and has done clerical and library work. Her daughters were both students. They all speak some English; Farsi (Persian) is their first language. They wish to live in an English-speaking community where they will be safe and free to practice their new religion. The government of Canada has approved them as refugees and given them all of the necessary documents for entering Canada. They are, in fact, the kind of people we need in Canada – courageous, resourceful, with a respect for education, religion and hard work.
“Would you be in church here if it could put you in jail,” she questioned. “These women have become refugees as a result of going to church and because they want to live in a place of religious freedom.”
While it can usually take months, sometimes years, for a sponsorship to be approved, the agreement the United Church has with the Canadian government will help move it along more quickly. Once she has the approval, the family could arrive in as little as a month’s time, she noted.
“I’m hoping they are here by the end of August,” she said. “They are now living in a refugee camp in Turkey. As single women, they are at some risk even there.”
Ms. Torvi has asked the Upper Valley Presbytery to sponsor this family. The Upper Valley Presbytery is the group of United churches situated between Arnprior to Deep River and from the Quebec border to Golden Lake.
While she is awaiting the official word, although she’s sure it will be a positive answer, Ms. Torvi has begun fundraising. In less than three weeks, she has managed to raise $4,000.
She noted once the family arrives, they will be given a small living allowance for the first six months by the federal government and the money raised will also be used for them.
“That’s why I think $12,000 will be enough for a year,” Ms.Torvi said.
To raise the money, she is only asking for donations. To put together a fundraiser takes time – which there isn’t a lot of right now – and effort, which is also in short supply because people are so busy, she said.
“I am definitely reaching out to everybody,” she said.
To raise the current $4,000, she has asked her coffee club members and book club members, friends and church members to donate $2 a week for a year, or whatever they feel they can donate. She carries pledge sheets with her and has friends handing them out as well. The core group of five on this sponsorship committee are also getting pledges and handing out pledge sheets, she noted. She said people can pay the $2 a week now and then pay themselves back or wait until they have a lump sum to give.
“I’ll take any amount of money someone is willing to donate,” she said. “I think $2 a week is doable.”
To donate or get more information, contact Ms. Torvi through email: [email protected]
Prior to receiving approval from the United Church, Ms. Torvi must submit a plan to the United Church, which includes a budget and how the sponsors will help the family once they have arrived.
She believes there are the resources and people in the Pembroke area who can help these women. They will need to find employment, she added. She said many refugees have the initiative to find employment, because coming here is a choice they have made.
“Contrary to stereotypes, these people are trying to escape persecution,” she said. “I have tremendous admiration for the strength of many refugees.
“I have personally seen what contributions they have made to Canada,” Ms. Torvi said.
In the early 1980s, she was teaching English to refugees and has kept in touch with a few of them. There is one family whose children have all gone to university and are now lawyers, accountants and doctors. They have even purchased their own homes, she added.
“You can’t say that about every Canadian,” Ms. Torvi said.
Ms. Torvi realizes there are many reasons to support refugees. But, considering the United Church of Canada has an agreement with the Canadian government, she quoted Matthew 25:40 — The king will answer them, ‘I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’
