Syrian Refugee Sponsorship

We’re pleased to let you know that after attending some meetings and connecting with the Cowichan Intercultural Society in Duncan we are fundraising to bring a Syrian Family, the Kaiyalis, to the Cowichan Valley.

The Kaiyalis are a family of four, comprising of a couple in their 30’s, their 10 year old daughter and 5 year old son. Dad is trained as a carpenter. This family’s journey started when they had to leave their home in the devastated city of Aleppo, Syria. They travelled from Syria to Lebanon in 2011 and have since been waiting for the opportunity to restart their lives in a welcoming and safe community.

The Kaiyalis have members of their family who have lived, worked and grown up in the Cowichan Valley for 25 years.  This makes it an ideal place for the Kaiyalis to settle and integrate. We have been in touch with the family’s cousin, Hanadi Ponsford, who, after growing up in the Cowichan Valley, now lives in Victoria with her husband and three young children. She has been able to provide us with other information and a photo of the Kaiyali family, which we can share directly with community members, but we are not publishing it so as not to identify and endanger them.

The Thetis Island Refugee Group has set an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 by mid-December and, to date, our group has raised $4,000.  For more information, we will be at Soups On December 2nd and 9th, the Christmas Craft Fair on the 5th, and the Recycling Depot. There are several ways to donate: write a cheque payable to the Cowichan Intercultural Society (CIS), call them at 250-748-3112 and speak to Lynn or Pema, donate online, by email with a donation sheet, or with a paypal account (see below).  Please make a note with your donation that it is connected to Thetis Island Refugee Group so the funds are directed to the account specifically for the Kaiyali Family Sponsorship.

Tax refundable receipts will be issued by the Cowichan Intercultural Society for donations over $25.  If you would like to give your donation as a Christmas gift, we can provide you with a card that explains the sponsorship gift for the recipient. In this case, please contact Michelle Black at 250-246-1898 or michelle@mlblack.ca 

Cowichan Intercultural Society

205 – 394 Duncan Street, Duncan, BC. V9L 3W4;

250-748-3112

Ways to donate: http://cis-iwc.org/donating/

http://cis.iwc.org                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Addressed envelopes, paper donation sheets, and cash donation boxes will be available from the group members at the above Thetis locations. Michelle also has a list of ways to volunteer with the family directly. Please contact her if you are interested.

With thanks,

Peggy, Vicki, Ellen, and Michelle for the Thetis Island Refugee Group

“The people of Syria lived life with purpose, joy, dignity and normalcy in school, work, and daily living. I know this personally because I have been to Syria many times, visiting family. They are good hearted and strong willed. This has all been taken by war and with each year the situation deteriorates. They now live in fear, of the daily unknown. They need our help to start over and a chance to live their lives, raise their children and take them to school in peace. This is a right to all people. The people of Syria have fallen. So let us make a direct difference and help, let’s lend our hand and allow them to stand up again.”

Hanadi Ponsford,

Cousin to the Kaiyalis