Dear ERA Friends,
It has been a tumultuous year for refugees around the world. In particular, the overthrow of the Al Assad regime in Syria which has meant joy but also uncertainty for the Syrian newcomers that are part of our ERA community. They continue to monitor news from home and process the emerging picture of the atrocities that were suspected but are just now being confirmed.
Despite these challenges there is some uplifting news from the ERA community.
In early September we successfully submitted an application to sponsor a Syrian couple with two young daughters plus their grandmother who lives with them. The family fled into Lebanon to escape the Syrian civil war after their home was destroyed in Aleppo. That was 10 years ago. They are now trapped in a war zone in Beirut, hoping for a chance at a new life in Canada.
Their application has been approved by IRCC in Ottawa and is now with Canadian officials in Lebanon for further scrutiny. If approved, travel documents and exit visas will be issued. In the past this last step could take 18 to 24 months but thanks to all of you who answered our call to write letters to MP’s and ministers we have been advised that more resources are being directed to process applications. An approval step that normally takes 5 months was recently completed in 2 1/2 months so this is very promising.
To keep our application in good standing with the federal government we must raise the final instalment of $16,000 by July 2025. These funds are held in trust to ensure that we can cover the cost of housing, food, clothing and other essentials for their first year in Canada.
We know this is possible. As a result of the generosity of the ERA community of individuals, churches, foundations and local service clubs we have raised $29,000 to sponsor this family in just 10 months.
We hope you will find a way to support ERA as we draw together our community to respond to the refugee crisis.
If you are a returning supporter, thank you for continuing to stand up for refugees. If you are contributing for the first time, we appreciate you recognizing the importance of this outreach. To everyone donating we are so very grateful.
Donations for 2024 can still be made by e-transfer or credit card. Through our donation page on our website.
Charitable receipts from All Saints Anglican Church will be mailed out in January.
We wish all of you the gifts of hope and peace at this time of year, gifts we can offer to refugees through our work together.
Sincerely,
Bertha, Cathy, Deney and Sue
ERA Steering Committee
erinrefugeeaction.ca 