Submitted by Castlegar Refugee Project
It was a fast and furious time from August to December the Castlegar Refugee Project (CaRe) crew.
We were approached about a refugee family in need, just one of many, many families, but one we could actually help by sponsoring and we believed our Castlegar community could do it.
Thanks to all of you, we were able to achieve step one – $43,000 was raised and put in trust with the refugee sponsorship agreement holder so that. Step two — filing to sponsor Tuan, Thang and their two boys who are UN Asylum Seekers in Malaysia — was completed before the end of 2022.
Step three is for the family to be approved by Canada and the UN to travel here and begin a new life — that step may take two or three years.
Step four will be about Castlegar citizens again. That’s when we will hear they are actually coming, and will have to find housing, make up teams of volunteers for teaching English, school support, cultural integration and getting them to the point where they are self sustaining by the end of their first year in Canada. The previously-donated $43,000 will be used to support the fmaily during that first year.
Taking care of the needs and logistics as they arrive is an amazing experience and we know Castlegar folks will come out strong when the time comes.
How did we get to $43,000 in just a few months? Well, Kinnaird Park Community Church (KPCC) supported this effort from the beginning and donated $4000. Other KPCC fundraisers were highly successful and congregants gave very generously. Heritage Credit Union gave $2500. KCTU, Kalesnikoff Lumber and St. Rita’s Catholic Women’s group all donated $500. The City of Castlegar gave an impressive $5,000 which put us over the top! The USCC Doukhobor women donated a handmade quilt for raffle. Private citizens gave and gave and gave some more.
In November, CaRe held the International Culture Festival which was a big hit as we all had a great time sharing the colourful crafts and displays of many nations.
We want to thank Area I and director Andy Davidoff for sponsoring the use of the Community Complex.
The Peace by Chocolate event was sponsored by the Castlegar United Church with Rosemary Manarin heading the effort and this also bolstered our fund. That event was helped by a grant from Columbia Basin Trust to pay for the film and goodies.
Refugee family background
Thang and Tuan fled Myanmar ten years ago because of oppression and personal danger. Since then, the world has witnessed the genocide and expulsion of the Rohingya Muslim population. In 2021 the military junta took over Myanmar and have been bombing, burning and killing in the Christian areas of the country where Tuan and Thang’s families are from.
This is the same area where refugees Zingmen and Tha Tin fled from. You might remember them as the lovely family who came in 2016 with Castlegar Refugee Project’s first sponsorship. Because of Castlegar’s generosity, Tha Tin and Zingmen are safe and flourishing in Regina, working and well, with three daughters. Tuan is Zingmen’s cousin.
Tuan and Thang are not safe yet, as Malaysia has not recognized the UN refugee process and at present is harassing, sometimes arresting and even deporting refugees back to the brutality of Myanmar. Sometimes they can find work here and there, but it is getting harder after a new president was elected in Malaysia.
We are hoping that this family are able to hang on until they are called to Canada.
Last week the family managed to get their two boys into a preschool that is partially supported through the UN agency, as they are not allowed to attend Malaysian schools. Just like kids here in the first week of school, both boys caught colds and have had to stay away until they are better.
But we wanted you to share their parents’ joy at this small bit of normal childhood, so check out the included photo.
Thank you to the Castlegar News for your constant support at the right time, and GOAT radio for doing your part so well!
There are so many bad news stories these days – you have made something good happen, and we will do our best to see that you meet this family in the future!!
Sincerely,
CaRe members Julie and David Leffelaar, Bruce and Clara Gerrand, Peter Laurie and Val Volpatti