It’s hard to imagine people opting to leave their home country. But this was the case for many Syrian refugees, whose home had become dangerous and unfamiliar. Over 100 days from 2015 to 2016, more than 25,000 settled in Canada. Almost five years on, we can learn from their stories and take away tips about how to be more welcoming.
Until the war in Syria began, Saaman and Rima Abiad’s life in one of the world’s oldest cities — 10,400-year-old Aleppo — seemed almost charmed. “It was a beautiful, peaceful city,” says Samaan. “Life was easy and comfortable.”
Rima worked for a travel agent and Saaman owned an auto parts shop with two warehouses. In the evenings, they gathered with their large extended family to share coffee and laughter. “On the weekends we’d go for dinner or dancing at a restaurant. In summer, when the weather was nice, we’d travel to the ocean or the mountains.”
In 2011, everything changed.
“The war began with demonstrations and protests and soon turned to arms, occupying areas and blocking roads,” says Samaan. The terrorists took over Samaan’s shop and warehouses, threatened to kill him and demanded money and access to his goods. “They said, ‘You must support the revolution or we have to kill you,’” he says. At first he paid them, but it was to no avail. The Abiads soon lost everything.
Nights were the hardest. “Our condo was in the fire line between the terrorists and the regular Syrian army,” says Rima. “Every night there were shells and shots over our building.”
In 2016, the Abiads fled Syria and arrived in Canada as refugees. Their sponsors helped them settle into an apartment, but they still faced the stress of starting over in a new country. “We felt we were in exile and could not afford our essential needs,” says Samaan.
Not long after they arrived, a snowstorm hit and temperatures dropped. They felt stuck in their apartment. “We had no community around us. We began to feel we were in prison.”
A volunteer from the group that had sponsored them checked in to ask how they were doing. “We told her how much we were suffering, and the community began to help us,” Samaan says. They got groceries, were offered rides and were invited to lunch by several families. The isolation began to melt. When Easter came, they were guests at their church pastor’s personal celebration. “They helped us feel we were still alive and there was a community that supports and cares for us.”
Today, the Abiads are doing well. Both have jobs and friends and feel settled. They share their journey in presentations to school kids and are excited to become Canadian citizens soon.
Like the Abiads, thousands of refugees come to Canada every year, each facing momentous life changes. Many Canadians want to be welcoming but may not know how. Here are some practical ideas.
Tip 1: Don’t make assumptions
“Treat each case separately,” says Samaan. “Don’t automatically expect every refugee to be poor with torn clothes and not understanding anything.” Some refugees are highly educated, have owned a business or have travelled the world. Others may not.
“Do not assume refugees are broken people in need of saving,” adds Martine Ooms, ’05 BSc, chair of a local refugee sponsorship group that worked with the Abiads. “Simply approach them as whole human beings deserving of dignity and respect.”
Tip 2: Take time to listen
“First and foremost, spend time talking and listening,” Ooms says. Get to know people's names and stories. “Invite a newcomer or refugee for a cup of coffee or tea and be prepared to listen rather than offer quick solutions.”
Tip 3: Be practical
Lindy Brown, ’79 BEd, used to work in immigration and settlement at Catholic Social Services. She suggests donating good-quality items like clothing, toys, cribs, school supplies, books, shoes and money to organizations in your community that have a track record of helping newcomers.
But it goes beyond things. Brown says many newcomers look for help in navigating an unfamiliar system. Some want to learn or improve English skills. Others are keen to learn about the culture, discover where to buy groceries, purchase winter clothing or figure out how the transit system works.
Samaan agrees and says that help with practical tasks makes a huge difference. This might include opening a bank account, obtaining a social insurance number, enrolling in a language school or getting a driver’s licence.
Tip 4: Learn from experience
Ooms says if you want to help but don’t know where to start, many cities have resources you can find through a simple Google search. In Edmonton, for example, these include the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Catholic Social Services and the Edmonton Public Library. Others might include mosques, churches, cultural organizations and non-profit agencies. Look for an agency or group with experience.
However, Ooms cautions: “While organizations are great for things like learning English, getting a job or filling out forms, there’s a greater need for personal connections, meaningful relationships and knowing other people care about you.”
Tip 5: Don’t forget simple kindness
Samaan says grand gestures aren’t required. Simple friendliness was what he and Rima most wanted and, when they found it, what they most appreciated.
“We’ve all experienced the feeling of being in a new place and not knowing anyone,” Ooms says. “Maybe you travelled to a foreign country, stepped onto the U of A campus for the first time or started a new job. My guess is you remember the first person who smiled at you and made you feel welcome.”
READ MORE, DO MORE:
Volunteer for Grocery Run: It supports newcomers to Edmonton, fostering a thriving community.
Converse and Cook: It’s a non-profit organization founded by UAlberta grads, as a way to get people more engaged with the food that they eat and with each other.
Share the Cheer: Next holiday season, host a couple of international students.
Refugee students on campus: Cooking, studying, hanging with friends. These activities took on new meaning for three Syrian refugees who arrived in 2016.
Give to the President’s Award: The President’s Award for Refugees and Displaced Persons helps young people who are unable to continue studies in their countries due to social and political instability.
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