Syrian refugee newlyweds, part of the Cochrane Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Group (CSRSG), received the keys to their new apartment in Cochrane on Feb. 29.
Safaa Alkhoury and Louay Ghassan arrived in Cochrane on Feb. 14 and had been staying in a temporary living situation with the other Syrian family, the Assafs, at the Franciscan Retreat for the past two weeks.
“We feel we are among our people and we are very happy – very excited (to be in our new apartment) and very happy,” Ghassan explained with the help of a translator app.
The two families that are a part of CSRSG have been settling in the town with the help of the group.
“I think they have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the Cochrane people, they feel very loved and grateful,” said CSRSG member Jackie Shier.
“It’s been a big transition with the time change and the I think there is just so much going on… once they get into their homes and settle in, I think they will have a better idea of what Canada is like.”
For the past couple of months, CSRSG have been fundraising for the Syrian families and with the unexpected early arrival of the refugees, the group members are still working towards their goal. For both families the CSRSG have a monetary goal of $40,000 with just over $27,000 raised to date.
“The community support has been phenomenal – so many people want to help and donate and help welcome (the families) to Cochrane,” Shier said.
Included with those who want to welcome the families are Cochrane mayor and councillors.
“We are obviously more than happy to welcome everybody to the Town of Cochrane – it is a great town and I hope they enjoy their experience here,” said Mayor Ivan Brooker.
Coun. Ross Watson echoed the mayor’s statements and said he is anxious to meet all of the families that have found refuge in the town.
“I know we’ve talked about it in council and the mayor and council share my views that it is nice we have a community that will step up – I think these groups in Cochrane have made the residents proud to be from Cochrane and I think acts of kindness like this really do impact the whole community,” Watson said.
“Quite frankly I am extremely proud of people in Cochrane for stepping up to do this. I think towns and cities across Canada are accepting refugees and for individuals in Cochrane to just, basically out of the fact that they are good people, to step up and help these organizations and to turn a desperate situation into a better situation in Cochrane is quite inspiring.”
It was announced by the Canadian government on Feb. 29 that Canada had fulfilled the Liberals’ promise to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees.
From that, three Syrian families, with 13 people in total, are already calling Cochrane home.
Ghassan called Cochrane and the residents his “new family.”
Organizers from the CSRSG said while they are still trying to meet their fundraising goal, they are also still accepting household donations asking for specific items such as floor lamps, child gates, vacuums, bedroom furniture, and coffee or end tables.
“We’ve had great support and we are all a community, so we are willing to help wherever we can – I can’t even imagine what these people have gone through,” said Donna Lyons, CSRSG member.
“People are welcome to donate whatever they want because even if we can’t use it, it will go to other places and it is all gratefully accepted – everyone wants to do something and they think it might be small but everything counts.”
For more information on how to donate contact CSRSG on their Facebook page at Cochrane Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Group, or a donation can be made through the Franciscan Friars’ website at mountstfrancis.ca
