A family from Syria has found refuge in the Town of Carman.

Arriving late Tuesday night in Winnipeg, the Aldarwish family was welcomed by community members after a long journey from their home. The family of six includes one boy aged 10 and three girls aged 8, 5, and 3.

Susan Weppler is part of the Carman Refugee Support Committee and says it's all very exciting, noting they only received word of the Aldarwishs arrival two weeks ago.

"We had to find housing, which we were very lucky to find. We found a three bedroom large house."

Local people, alongside church organizations, have been hard at work securing a residence for the family and spent the past weekend furnishing it and stocking it with food.

"We were there Friday and Saturday cleaning. So much furniture was donated, we've got everything furniture-wise that we need. A couple members of our committee went grocery shopping so there will be food, and we're trying to find foods that Syrians are used to eating."

Weppler adds the Committee had originally selected a different family to come to Carman back in February, but found out in early November that the group wasn't ready to travel when they were put on the sponsorship list.  

"We were sad to let go of the other family," adds Weppler. "We won't be sponsoring them but we'd like to hopefully be notified what happens if they come to Canada and if we can, in any way, help them."

While members of the committee only know basic information about the Aldarwish's plans are in place for medical evaluations. The Aldarwish parents will begin English lessons at Regional Connections in Winkler in the new year, and the children start school after the winter break.

"The refugees who come are very motivated to work, they really want to get jobs as soon as they can, they want to be financially independant but not knowing English holds them back," explains Weppler. "We really want to see the families succeed. We don't want to have a relationship with them for just the one year, if they need help at the end of the year then we will do our best to continue to be supportive of them."

Although the family can leave Carman in the future, Weppler says their goal is to make the family "feel welcome and comfortable in our community and our country."

Sponsorship expenses are covered partially by the government and with the help of fundraising. Setup costs and expenses from months 8-12 are covered locally, while the government pays for months 2-7.

Additional groups working to sponser refugees in Carman are currently fundraising as well.