Refugee families find safety in rural Manitoba
ALTONA, MB—When violent riots tore through Iraq in 2003 following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Palestinians living in the country became targets of racial hate crimes and were forced to flee.
Ziad Abukhousa, along with his wife and seven children, were among the lucky ones who found safety in a refugee camp in the desert region of Syria, near the border of Iraq.
Unable to seek asylum in Syria, the family made yet another move in February of this year—this time to Altona, Manitoba.
The chance to resettle came through a partnership between Mennonite Central Committee and the sponsoring group Build A Village (BAV)—a local community group aimed at providing settlement assistance for refugee families.
"We try to connect them with a support group made up of three to five families to help them settle into life in Canada," says Ray Loewen, chair of the committee.
"We help the kids settle into school and pick the right classes, help the adults find jobs, connect them with people who are going to walk with them in all areas of life—from banking, to cooking, to whatever else they need to settle in here."
The BAV program started in 2001, helping families in El Salvador rebuild their houses in the wake of a massive earthquake.
But in 2005 the organization expanded its scope and started sponsoring refugee families, welcoming them into their community and supporting them in every way possible.
Since then, Loewen says they have helped 15 families move to Altona, a small town of under 4,000 people located 115 kilometres south of Winnipeg.
Most of the families come from war-torn countries such as Sudan, Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania and Burundi.
"For the most part, their experience here is really good. We hear families say on a regular basis that Altona offers a safe place where people care about them and are willing to help, and where they can get a good education for their kids," says Loewen.
"Most of the parents say they did not leave their country for themselves, but they left because they wanted a better opportunity for their kids. They didn't want their kids to grow up in midst of war."
But not all families choose to stay in Altona.
Loewen says eight families have moved to larger cities, while seven have planted their roots in the community.
"We like to help people who are in a bad situation right now come to Canada and give them as much support as we can in the first year. If they decide to stay, that's great. If they decide other places are more suitable, that's great too," says Loewen.
The experience benefits the refugee families, but Loewen says the community has also gained a lot from the newcomers.
"They have broadened our worldview. They have brought a diversity of language and culture to our community," says Loewen.
"The most important thing they've taught us is the importance of family and relationships, and how to be welcoming. When you pay a visit to their house, they make you feel incredibly welcome."
Right now, BAV is working on identifying the next families to sponsor and ramping up efforts for another village build in El Salvador.
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