PEMBROKE – Have you felt it? The rising energy of individuals looking to do something to help refugees get a second chance at a life of freedom and hope? The energy is real and Renfrew County is bursting with it.
More than 4 million Syrians have fled their homes since 2011. In September 2015, the photo of Alan Kurdi, a 3 year old boy who drowned and washed up on the shores of Turkey, was a catalyst for many who felt they could no longer sit back and watch the news without doing something. The emotional photo became a symbol for the senseless loss of lives and innocence and for the incomprehensible risk and horror Syrians are overcoming in an effort to find a safe place to call home.
The photo touched the lives of people the world over. Here in Renfrew County, it was the catalyst for the creation of Project Welcome – a grass roots, community driven group of volunteers working to sponsor a refugee family so that they may find safety, happiness and freedom in the Ottawa Valley. Project Welcome is made up of over 70 members, with a core group of 20 or so volunteers working diligently to collect pledges, organize fundraising events, collect furniture and household items and fill out the necessary paperwork. Group members are predominately located in the Pembroke and Petawawa areas.
“We hear it again and again – people are longing to do something to help Syrian refugees but do not know where to start,” explains Lauren McIllfaterick, Project Welcome volunteer. “Project Welcome has given Ottawa Valley residents a way to get involved and do something productive. It’s about reflecting on how lucky we are and wanting to help a family in their search for safety and a new beginning.”
Another group called Valley Welcome, based in the Killaloe/Eganville areas, has also come together to sponsor a Syrian family.
Both Valley Welcome and Project Welcome are working with the Upper Valley Presbytery of the United Church of Canada, a registered charity with decades of experience in sponsoring refugees. The newcomer families will be chosen from the list of approved refugees generated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and will be selected based on their specific needs and the groups’ ability to adequately support them in the Valley.
“Upper Valley Presbytery has been involved with refugee sponsorship for a number of years,” said Lee Torvi, a member of Upper Valley Presbytery, the umbrella group of United churches in this area. “We we want to share our knowledge and experience about how to sponsor refugees.”
A Fashion Extravaganza, which is selling second-hand clothing, is a fundraiser and will take place at the Cobden Legion on Nov. 6 and 7.
For information on Project Welcome, including other fundraising events, visit facebook.com/projectwelcomeOV. Those ready and able to donate to Project Welcome are encouraged to do so via www.gofundme.com/projectwelcome. Similarly, those interested in Valley Welcome can find them on facebook.com/valleywelcome.
