Page 23 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2024

presbyterian.ca
SPRING 2024
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Compassion in Action
tarian crises triggered by human geopolitical agendas could be avoided, but they continue to oc- cur, and we are called to respond to alleviate the suffering that is often just described as “collateral damage.”
Thankfully, with its partners and with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the ACT Alliance, PWS&D can respond along with many others, with the hopes of a more peaceful world where soli- darity and compassion may rule. We are also deeply grateful for the role Presbyterian congrega- tions and individuals play—your prayers and gifts make these hu- manitarian responses possible.
A project participant in Malawi re- ceived a cash distribution to purchase food following Cyclone Freddy. PHOTO CREDIT: CARD Malawi.
By Guy Smagghe, PWS&D Director
A new year has begun, offering us the opportunity to look back at all that has been accomplished in the past year. It seems like we’ve been dealing with one humani- tarian crisis after another. Wars are taking place with little or no consideration for international humanitarian laws and conven- tions, which were established to protect civilian populations from the atrocities of wars. How can churches be prophetic voices for peace in these times?
As followers of Christ, we are called to promote peace, justice, reconciliation and the other prin- ciples of the kingdom of God that Jesus preached and called us to seek and work for.
One of Gandhi’s famous quotes was, “An eye for an eye will make
the whole world blind.” As we wit- ness the escalation of violence in the Middle East, it is easy to see that this wisdom is being largely ignored, as scores of civilian lives are sacrificed. Amid these chal- lenges, PWS&D finds ways to reach out.
A key achievement for PWS&D in 2023 was to see the fruits of our advocacy efforts as the Gov- ernment of Canada finally carved out an exception in its sanctions against the Taliban. This excep- tion allows for humanitarian assistance to be given to popu- lations in need, without jeopard- izing our charitable status.
As soon as that door opened, we worked with our long-standing local partner to begin a food as- sistance project in Bamiyan prov- ince, targeting the most vulnerable populations, mostly women and children. PWS&D also supported
In Haiti, project participants receive food distributions in response to increasing levels of food insecurity. PHOTO CREDIT: ADRA.
PRESBYTERIAN
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populations affected by the earth- quakes that struck Herat in Octo- ber 2023. We hope to scale up our humanitarian response in Af- ghanistan in the coming months, with the support of our allies at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and with matching funds from the Government of Canada.
Looking back at 2023, with your support, PWS&D responded to many other humanitarian cri- ses in the world. We continued to respond to the needs created by the war in Ukraine. We re- sponded to the devastation of Cyclone Freddy in Malawi. We
provided food assistance and nu- trition relief in Haiti. The crisis in Syria was worsened by the Syria- Türkiye earthquake, so our assis- tance there had to be scaled up as well. We supported our partner in Nepal to assist people affected by last year’s earthquakes. We provided relief in Somalia, in the context of a prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa, which created a hunger crisis.
We can see that humanitarian crises triggered by natural events are getting worse every year due in part to the climate emergency and natural disasters. Humani-
Refugee Sponsorship: Intense and Humbling
Members of the St. Andrew’s refugee committee eagerly wait for the family they have sponsored to arrive.
By Ruth Barwell, member of
St. Andrew’s PC refugee committee in Owen Sound, Ont.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Owen Sound, embarked on a refugee sponsorship journey be- ginning in March 2022. The war in Ukraine had just begun. At our church’s Annual Meeting, some- one asked, “How are we going to respond to so much need in the world?” Refugee sponsorship be- came one answer.
Sponsoring a young family, originally from Sudan, has been satisfying, intense, humbling, busy, enriching, wonderful, team/
friendship/community-building, full of learning, fun and more. These are the descriptors used by our Refugee Committee to de- scribe the experience. Similarly, the newcomer family, using their brand-new English words, said it has been “intense, busy, safe and good.” They feel attached to members of the committee. We feel great affection and admira- tion for them.
There have been multiple stag- es in this journey.
First, we learned about the complexities of Canadian refu- gee and immigration programs. We didn’t even know that the PCC had staff to help with this! Thank you, Sevan and Biniam from PWS&D, for helping us se- lect the right program—the BVOR (Blended Visa Office Referred) program—and getting us through all the paperwork. A BVOR spon- sorship helps bring pre-screened refugees to Canada, with costs shared between the Canadian government and the sponsor- ship group—each provides six months of support.
Second, fundraising! You’ll need more than the government tells
you that you’ll need. We engaged our broader community to help. Kudos to the businesses and peo- ple who suppor ted our cause and were not even connected with St. Andrew’s. It takes a village!
Third, prepare for arrival! Un- certainty and excitement abound, and there is so much to sort out. Housing is in short supply and ex- pensive everywhere. Daycare has a nine-month waiting list. Who offers English as a Second Lan- guage (ESL) training that meets the needs of this family? Thank God for a loving Syrian couple who worked with us and have lived experience as refugees and speak Arabic.
Fourth stage—arrival on March 3, 2023. So exciting and such a frenetic stage! Being rural, our community doesn’t have ro- bust transportation services. We needed lots of volunteers—to drive, translate, teach and set up computer services, provide child care, complete paperwork, and facilitate school registration and daycare subsidy, ESL, employ- ment, and so much more! The family has been incredible in adapting to all of us interjecting
The newly arrived family and members of the congregation’s refugee committee.
into their lives.
Fifth stage—routines. The chil-
dren are functioning well in school and daycare and their English is quite advanced. Parents are at- tending ESL classes four half days a week and have jobs, each working 20–25 hours each week. In this stage, things are less task oriented and more fun, like going to the beach, kids’ soccer nights, setting up a Christmas tree, etc. The parents walk miles in a day getting to and from their activi- ties because they are just learning how to drive. They have an amaz- ing attitude toward the challenges
that come with settling into a new culture, language and friendship group.
Finally, we hope the family will feel they’re on good footing and self-sufficient by spring 2024. There will still be new learning— income tax completion, getting a car someday, and full-time jobs. But, most importantly, we can’t wait for this new relationship to turn into a long-time friendship, as the family continues to be part of our community.
To learn more or get involved, visit WeRespond.ca/get-involved/ refugee-sponsorship.