Headwaters group sponsors Syrian refugees

April 15, 2015 · 0 Comments

Conflict in Syria continues to rage, displacing millions from their homes and livelihoods leaving them destitute with little hope of regaining the lives they once lived. Brian Logel, Chair of The Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship program, explains that “under pressure from the international community and the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) the Canadian government has agreed to bring 10,000 Syrian and 3,000 Iraqi refugees to Canada over the next 3 years.” Forty percent of these 13,000 will be sponsored directly by Ottawa and the other sixty percent must be sponsored through private organizations or individuals. The Headwaters group has been working for months to sponsor a family of four refugees currently struggling to survive in Jordan where they fled to escape the conflict. The group is a source of hope for a new life for the family.
Brian Logel, newly retired from directorship of The Maples School in Orangeville, says his family was “previously involved in rehabilitating another refugee family from Iraq that came to Orangeville 6 years ago” and had heard about the group through St. Timothy church. “We, as a family, have always been interested in social justice issues having travelled and volunteered our services in various countries in the Caribbean and India. One of our daughters is employed by World Vision and is on the Humanitarian and Emergency response team. Besides the benefit to the family being sponsored, we feel that this initiative gives the members of the group an opportunity to put their faith into action.”
Logel says there have been 4 million Syrians forced to flee their country since the war began and 620,000 are refugees in neighbouring Jordan, a country already strapped for resources. Many of the refugees live in large refugee camps operated by the United Nations and other aid agencies, but most live on their own or with relatives. As “most refugees are not allowed to work,” says Brian, “they are heavily dependent upon aid.”
Brian explained, “There are 65 SAH (Sponsorship Agreement Holder) organizations across Canada that are authorized by the CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) to sponsor refugees from the lists of UNHCR designated refugees. These groups are responsible for settling the newcomers, covering all their financial costs for one year and assisting with their integration into Canadian society, to learn English and seek employment.” The Agreement Holders work through and support local groups, such as The Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship program, in their efforts to settle refugees.
The Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship group is working with AURA (Anglican United Refugee Alliance) through their co-sponsors the Westminster United Church in Orangeville. “The Headwaters group has been tentatively assigned a Syrian family of four, who are living in Jordan. They have been designated as UNHCR refugees but must still pass a rigorous process (security, medical etc.) by the Canadian government in order to be cleared to come to Canada,” said Brian. The family fled Syria nearly 3 years ago after their town was bombed and the father was beaten by security forces. “He had no interest in joining either side in the bloody civil war which has raged there for 5 years,” said Brian. “They are not living in a refugee camp, but are finding life very difficult in Jordan, Brian relayed, and “although both parents are well educated and had professional positions in Syria, they are not allowed to work legally in Jordan. Their savings are running out and they are experiencing resentment from the local Jordanians whose country is being taxed by the huge influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria. They feel their lives are on hold until they can find a safe new home to raise their children.”
In the meantime, the family is focusing on improving their English skills. “Their application for asylum in Canada must be accepted by Ottawa after they pass their medical and security screenings and interviews with Canadian Immigration and Citizenship personnel. The process will take between 6 and 12 months and the group must demonstrate to AURA and CIC that they have the resources to take care of the family’s needs for the first year,” said Logel.
The Headwaters group reports that the Iraqi family sponsored six years ago have “fully integrated into Canadian society with both parents employed and the children doing extremely well at school.” The Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship organization has about 50 local supporting members assigned various tasks in preparation for the family’s arrival. “Individuals are exploring housing, ESL, education and medical options and needs for the family,” said Brian. Currently, the group is accepting donations to cover housing and living expenses as well as clothing and household items. The Headwaters Refugee Sponsorship program can be reached at headwaterref@gmail.com

By Marni Walsh