Sponsors Needed To Reunite Syrian Family In Winkler

A Syrian family living in Winkler is hoping to be reunited with loved ones still living as refugees in Lebanon.

One of the family's local sponsors, Leala Kuhl says when picking up the exhausted refugee family at the airport their first question was, "When can we bring our family here?" They were so concerned that they had left their family members behind."

While safer than Syria, Kuhl explains as refugees in Lebanon the family members still face many hardships and discrimination.

"They just want their family to be here and to be safe," Kuhl says.

Kara Wieler is part of the same sponsor group of church members and neighbours that helped settle the Alsabaa Syrian family this February through a government aided program. She says the first settlement required they raise $19,000 for the family of seven.

To bring the extended family to Winkler through private sponsorship, Wieler says they are looking at bringing five family members at a cost of $32,000. The large undertaking has led them to putting a call out for others to join the sponsorship group, as well as a need for donations.

Wieler says watching the family establish themselves in Winkler has been gratifying, and a life-changing experience for her own children.

"It's been eye-opening for them... to learn this different culture and what other people have gone through," she says. "It's been good for us as a family to learn to give our time and think of others."

The group is sponsoring the extended family through MCC, and have been given a timeframe of their arrival between the next six months and a year. Sponsors are asked to make a one year commitment to support the new arrivals.

To learn more call 204-325-7232 or 204-362-8044.