A young Syrian refugee living in New Westminster is closer to seeing his mother and siblings for the first time in years.
Mohammed Alsaleh, 26, is sending the paperwork in for a sponsorship application backed by donations from the public.
“I can’t believe we are in the final stages,” Alsaleh said. “It’s like a dream coming true.”
Alsaleh’s plight was first covered in the Record's print edition on Nov. 19. The story inspired New West resident Deana Brynildsen to reach out to Alsaleh and start an online fundraising campaign that gathered more than $30,000 from 185 donors. Many donors left kind words, and some were refugees themselves. (See sidebar below.)
“It seems like it’s going to happen really quickly. I have to pinch myself to think three months ago we had really nothing,” Brynildsen.
The Anglican Diocese of New Westminster recently agreed to be the sponsoring organization on the application, and one of its Burnaby churches will help with housing, budgeting and general support, when the family arrives.
Alsaleh hopes to send the application in soon and have his family here in a matter of months. His two sisters, brother and mother already fled Syria and are now in Turkey and looking forward to arriving in Canada.
“My family expressed huge gratitude towards everyone who’s been involved in making this happen. They can’t wait to be here, to be safe, to be reunited with me,” Alsaleh said.
“My little sister can’t wait to come here and go to school. This is her dream. She wants to start school on the first day she comes, she told me that. And my other sister wants to get back to university as soon as possible,” Alsaleh added.
Meanwhile, Alsaleh is working with the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., helping other newly arrived refugees.
“Thanks to Canadians, YVR has been the place where separated families get reunited, and I can’t wait to see that happen to me and to my family,” he said.
The Record couldn’t reach anyone from the Diocese or the Burnaby church by deadline.
Highlights from donor comments:
$500, Ali Walizada: From one ex-refugee to another.
$100, Carrie Branch: Canada would be lucky to have your family as citizens - wishing you the all the best.
$500, Dave Vallee: This is a great cause. Thank you, Deana, for initiating this worthy endeavour.
$200, Marisa Adair: My parents came to Canada from Italy with the clothes on their backs and built a new life. I would like to see this Syrian family have the same opportunity to prosper in this country!
$200, Brian Unger: This donation is in honour of my parents. My mother's family immigrated from Ukraine after the Second World War.
$202, Pat & Dave Pearson: Best wishes from North Carolina to Mohammed and his family. May you be reunited soon!
$1,000, Lang Nguyen: As a Vietnamese refugee, I believe in paying it forward. I hope that this family can come to Canada and enjoy the same happiness and freedom as I have.
