(SEE ACCOMPANYING ARTICLE ON HOW THE SYRIAN FAMILIES ARE DOING IN SALMON ARM AT THIS )
As the man who was at the helm of the Salmon Arm Refugee Coalition, Brian Ayotte has a unique view of the project that brought nine Syrian refugee families to Salmon Arm.
Mustafa Zakreet, the first Syrian to arrive, has been in the community for about two-and-a-half years, and the coalition, which coordinated the efforts, has completed its work.
Exhausting and rewarding is how Ayotte describes the past two years.
鈥淚 think, speaking on behalf of most of the volunteers, I think it was a little more work than people anticipated. They (the refugees) have experienced trauma, huge losses and they needed a lot of help and encouragement. It wasn鈥檛 so much raising the money, but accompanying them in this transition.
鈥淪ome cases, it was very easy, others it was difficult, but they have all made an amazing transition to Canadian culture.鈥�
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Ayotte says there鈥檚 a little fatigue on the part of volunteers but most want to keep at it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 even very rewarding. When you see the smile on the faces, particularly the children, and hear the thank-you from the parent, it鈥檚 pretty powerful.鈥�
All the families are very motivated, he adds, doing their best to find work and be reponsible Canadians.
In his view, one of the most amazing things about the whole experience is the way people came together to support the Syrians.
鈥淭he coming together of the various groups in Salmon Arm was astounding,鈥� he says, describing how he鈥檚 never seen a group of individuals, two Rotary clubs and 11 churches work on anything together like they did.
Nine sponsoring groups had at least 20 volunteers each.
鈥淪o you鈥檙e talking 200 people.鈥�
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The federal government required proof that the sponsoring groups were capable of raising the roughly $30,000 or more each family needed for sponsorships 鈥� meaning close to $300,000 was raised.
鈥淪o for a little town like this, that鈥檚 unbelievable.鈥�
Ayotte says Shuswap Settlement Services has also been a huge support.
He has noticed that the federal government鈥檚 commitment to bringing in the refugees slowed substantially after the first 38,000 were admitted.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see Canada double the number of refugees. They have immigration quotas, but a lot are economic immigrants. If you show you have $300,000 to invest in a business, you go in a different line. I think we need some of that, yes, but we need to pay attention to those with the greatest need.鈥�
And this need is the greatest.
鈥淧eople are afraid of getting killed,鈥� he emphasizes. 鈥淭his is not people being afraid of getting diarrhea. This is people afraid of dying.鈥�
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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