Page 39 - Presbyterian Connection

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SUMMER 2023
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
PRESBYTERIAN
39
In War, Finding Hope in Art
The Kincardine Refugee Committee
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications, with files from Simon Chambers, ACT Alliance
Elizabeth’s life has changed dras- tically in the past year. She used to live in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with her family, where she attended high school and nurtured her passion for drawing and painting people’s hands and eyes. She dreamed of becoming an artist and attending university to pursue her passion.
But everything came to a stand- still when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In March, three rockets hit her apartment building, forcing the family to flee. “We had to leave with only our clothes and documents,” recalled Irina, Elizabeth’s mother.
The family of three found shel- ter in an abandoned house in a small village near Sambir, outside Lviv, offered by people known to Elizabeth’s mother. Elizabeth’s grandparents later joined them.
The move was a challenge for the family, with the house having been unoccupied for eight years and needing extensive repairs. Moreover, Elizabeth’s mother could not continue her IT job due to the absence of reliable Internet in the village. The family had to work hard during the summer to renovate the house, which lacked essential household supplies and running water.
One day, Father Alek, who manages a local NGO that part- ners with ACT Alliance member Hungarian Interchurch Aid, came to their door. “I heard you are dis- placed and have just arrived here. How can I help? What do you need?” he asked.
Since the beginning of the war PWS&D, through the ACT Alliance, has provided suppor t to Hungarian Interchurch Aid. This aid meant Father Alek could provide the fam- ily with essential items like food, clothes and even a refrigerator.
Although the war had taken a toll on Elizabeth, she continued to draw, but her art had become more disturbing and darker. However, as the family settled into their new home, Elizabeth completed high school and star ted a typography course in Lviv, which helped her art flourish once more. Her latest crea- tion, a vibrant painting of the sum- mer sky viewed through leaves, exudes optimism and vitality.
Elizabeth and her family fled Kharkiv to a small village near Lviv. During that time, her artwork underwent a dark period; however, she is now re- discovering hope through her work. PHOTO CREDIT: SIMON CHAMBERS/ACT ALLIANCE.
Thank you
PWS&D has been able to pro- vide essential aid to individuals and families, such as Elizabeth’s, thanks to the generous support of Presbyterians from all over Canada. The substantial financial support of over $960,000 has al- lowed PWS&D to extend much- needed assistance to those im- pacted by the attack on Ukraine.
Through the ACT Alliance, we suppor ted Hungarian Interchurch Aid as they provided food and shelter, as well as cash assistance and emergency mental health and psychological care for those dis- placed within Ukraine, as well as those who had fled the country.
Additionally, PWS&D provided food assistance to families in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, through Canadian Foodgrains Bank member ADRA Canada, al- lowing donations to be matched 4:1. Families can use cash assis- tance to purchase food and other essential items.
Furthermore, PWS&D extended assistance to farmers through the Reformed Church in Transcar- pathia by providing them with ag- ricultural inputs like fertilizer that they were unable to afford as the war created serious inflation. This aid will enable the farmers to cul- tivate crops during the upcoming year.
Despite the ongoing war, the demand for aid remains high. And PWS&D remains committed to collaborating with local partners, ecumenical networks and coali- tions to help. We appreciate your generous support!
By the Rev. Kathy Fraser, convener of the Knox Kincardine Refugee Committee
Since fall of 2014, when the world grew increasingly aware of the civil war in Syria, the people of Kincardine have opened their hearts and their wallets to help those in dire need. The word refugee became a familiar one as news spread of people forced to flee their homes and homeland— leaving behind all that they knew and loved—out of necessity.
While the crisis in Syria made global headlines, the reality is that there are millions of refugees from many countries who are far from home, living in camps or in hiding, but with hope for a new tomorrow.
This year marks 10 years of the Kincardine Refugee Committee (KRC) working to bring families to a new land, where they can find safety and solace, help and hope, freedom and friendship.
The KRC works in cooperation with, and under the auspices of PWS&D, and we have been grate- ful for their support, advice and encouragement. That said, refu- gee sponsorship knows no de- nominational or religious bounds. People from all faiths and no faith have come together to share their common humanity in response to the stranger in need.
At a public meeting held in the fall of 2014, this community (Kincardine, Ripley, Tiverton and Point Clark) raised more than $70,000 in cash and pledges to sponsor a refugee family. It was an outpouring of love and gener- osity, not only in terms of finan- cial support but also “hands to the wheel—feet on the ground” assistance. Volunteers poured forward with offers of help.
While the Syrian crisis launched this work, we decided not to limit our sponsorship efforts to refu- gees from any particular country. Through PWS&D we were made aware of an Iranian family living in Turkey who were in urgent need of sponsorship. Moved by their story, we applied to sponsor them to Kincardine.
In August 2016, after months of preparation and patient waiting, we welcomed a mother and her three adult children. They arrived with only a few pieces of luggage
A trip to Canada’s Wonderland was gifted to the Almerei family by a resident of Kincardine, who accompanied them for a day of fun and adventure.
and no English skills, but were filled with hope and deep grati- tude for the opportunity to begin a new life.
Through the local community, the family received a full year of support, which included cloth- ing, food, housing, ESL classes, orientation to Canadian customs and laws, access to health pro- fessionals and friendship—all that is needed to make a fresh star t.
A year later, with their English skills much improved and a desire to move forward with their educa- tion and lives, the family left Kin- cardine. In 2022, they all became Canadian citizens; thankful for the new beginning they have found in Canada.
With more than $30,000 re- maining in the bank, as well as the energy and desire to continue our work, the Kincardine Refugee Committee called another public meeting in November 2017. This time, an application was submit- ted to sponsor a specific fam- ily who had been brought to our attention—a Syrian family of six, living in a camp in Lebanon.
In the fall of 2020, with COVID restrictions in full swing, the fam- ily arrived. Since that time, they have become well integrated into the community—learning Eng-
lish, working, attending school, making friends, living their lives.
In April 2022, after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, we re- ceived many emails from des- perate people looking for refugee sponsorship. One such email touched our hearts deeply. It came from a young woman pleading for help on behalf of her mother and siblings. Her father had been killed by the Taliban and they were forced to flee to neighbouring countries where they lived in hid- ing, fearing for their lives.
Based on the situation, we decided to apply to sponsor and welcome them. The same process ensued—fundraising, finding and furnishing a suitable home, waiting, wondering and, at times, worrying.
Happily, on March 24, 2023, four members of the fam- ily arrived. On May 2, the eldest daughter, who had been living on her own in a different country for the past three years, joined them in Kincardine. What a joyous re- union that was!
With thanks to so many for their ongoing support and encourage- ment, the Kincardine Refugee Committee intends to continue the work of sponsoring those in need. It is the work of our shared humanity.