I first met my friend Ektimal in 2017. She was a single woman from Syria and had just arrived in Canada with her brother. Her whole family was dispersed around the world due to the war that erupted in her beloved home country. As she’s worked to rebuild her life, we’ve had some precious memories together. Weddings, new babies, shared workplaces, and more. I wanted to share snippets of a conversation we had recently!
Hi friend! I already shared that your name is Ektimal and you are originally from Syria. You had to leave home because of the violence that erupted in your home country. How long were you waiting before you were chosen for refugee resettlement?
I was waiting for about two years.
Did you feel welcomed by your new community?
My new society welcomed me. They were so nice to me. They were so helpful. They treat everyone the same. They all smiled to my face. Everyone is equal.
You came through the regular refugee resettlement process (i.e. sponsored by the government. What would you tell someone who is trying to decide whether to form a private refugee sponsorship group?
Thank you for your help! Please try your best to help anyone who is a refugee. Refugees lived such a hard life that they had to leave their country. There may be no electricity and no heating. Home is not a safe place. When there is war, it is not a safe place.
What does welcome mean to you?
Safety. Love. Everyone is the same.
In talking to Ektimal, it struck me how much the equality of her new home shone through in her answers. I think sometimes we take for granted the equal protections we have here in the United States (or Canada, for Ektimal!). If you want to be a part of extending life-changing welcome to a refugee family, take some time to learn more about refugee sponsorship. If you fill out the interest form, someone from our team will get in touch!
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Brittani Farrington is the Discipleship Coordinator for Women of Welcome
Let’s have the conversation you’ve always wanted to have about immigration.