Dear Friends,
We are deeply moved to sponsor a brave widow and her two teenage daughters, Syrian/Palestinian refugees who have faced unimaginable challenges.

After years of fleeing violence and hardship, they have shown remarkable strength and resilience. Their story is of survival and strength, as they have endured years of fear, loss, and displacement.

Despite everything they have been through, they continue to hold onto hope for a better future. We are honoured to participate in their journey, offering support and helping them find peace, security, and a fresh beginning in our community. Their courage is a reminder of the power of resilience, and we are determined to help them create a future full of opportunity and hope.

When the war took the life of her husband, this mother and her daughters spent the next five years in hiding, constantly running from place to place to stay alive. Their lives were in constant danger; the mother faced ongoing threats, and the daughters' school was attacked, shattering any sense of security.

Desperate for safety, they fled Syria, only to find themselves trapped in a country where they have no legal status, no rights, and no protection. If they are captured, they will have no access to any human rights and will be detained indefinitely in jail or deported back to Syria, where their lives remain at risk. They are barely surviving, relying on small donations to afford food and rent. Every day, the risk of being caught grows, and their situation becomes more desperate. No one should have to live in constant fear, unsure of what tomorrow will bring. But for this mother and her daughters, every day is a fight for survival.

With your help, we can give this family the chance they deserve, a fresh start, free from fear, and the opportunity to build a new life in a place where safety and hope are possible. To secure their sponsorship through the federal government, we must raise $30,000 by mid/late March and we will then need to raise an additional $30,000 in order to have the necessary funds to support them for the first year after they arrive in Canada.

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings them one step closer to that future. The timeline is short, but together, we can make it happen.

Many of us have already helped refugee families start new lives in Victoria through the same Private Sponsorship Program, and we have seen the life-changing impact of a safe home and a fresh start here in Canada. This is a community effort, uniting people of all backgrounds in a shared mission of compassion and hope.

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. All donations will go towards refugee settlement costs.

How to donate:

a) Credit card payments can be made by phone at 250-383-2714 or in person at the Cathedral office. Please mention “Refugee Support” when completing your transaction.

b) Cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral  Please include “Refugee Support” in the memo line. 

c) E-transfer: Use email: giving@christchurchcathedral.bc.ca with “Refugee Support” in the memo box.

Or TO CONGREGATION EMANU-EL: 

Website: congregationemanuel.ca

a) Credit card online payment to "Refugee Family CE25" Sponsorship by clicking the link below:

https://congregationemanuel.shulcloud.com/payment.php?donation_type_id=7603841. Please enter your credit card details as a guest.

b) Cheque payable to Congregation Emanu-El. Please include "Refugee Sponsorship CE25” in the memo line. 

Mail to: Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 2J3

250-382-0615 | info@congregationemanuel.ca


"This family has lost everything. But with your kindness, we can give them a future." 

For any questions about the sponsorship or to volunteer to join our team, please contact us at: CEE.Refugee@gmail.com

 

Thank you for opening your hearts.

Salaam / Shalom,

Joan Duckett

For the Sponsorship Committee