North Vancouver Deanery Karen Refugee Sponsorship.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of PWRDF* our North Shore Deanery has agreed to sponsor two Karen Refugee families from a camp on the Thai/Myanmar border.
This is a year long commitment to provide practical and financial assistance. We are being aided by members of the Diocesan PWRDF and Refugee committees and about $8,000 of the funding required is being provided by PWRDF and the Canadian Government. We will also be looking for some support from other parishes in the Diocese.
Both are families of three - one with a son, the other has a daughter. The children are 15 months old and the families have relatives in the Vancouver area.
Contact with these relatives is just now being made to establish a clearer picture of settlement requirements. The families are likely to arrive at short notice before mid-July 2009!
Some immediate needs:
- We need someone to act as co-ordinator and key contact person for one of the families. This person will work alongside an existing well experienced volunteer involved with the other family. These two people will be supported by many volunteers dealing with specific activities such as housing, shopping, transportation, etc.
- In addition we are seeking individuals with interests or knowledge in providing support and assistance in the following specific areas:
- Setting-up and furnishing small one-bedroom apartments.
- Shopping, budgeting and money matters - providing assistance and guidance to the families to familiarize themselves with Canadian ways.
- Transportation - to assist families get to know the bus system and how to get around the city.
- Health - to guide and help obtain medical and dental assistance
These needs are fairly urgent and if you can help you are requested to contact Chris Trendell right away at 604-987-0372.
* Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, our Canadian National Anglican organisation. See pwrdf.org for more information.
Please mark any contributions for "the Karen Refugees".
Thank you all.
Background:
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Mae La Camp
Mae La children at mission school
With a population of nearly 50,000, the Mae La camp is the largest of the 9 camps along the Thai-Burma border.
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The Karen people are an ethnic group in Southeast Asia enduring an ethnic cleansing program in eastern Burma. The result is between 500,000 to 1 million Karen people living in hiding within Burma. In addition, a series of nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border house some 155,000 mostly Karen refugees.
Thousands more live in refugee-like situations in Thailand and Burma, and millions of other Burmese from a variety of ethnic groups seek refuge and a way to make a living in surrounding countries.
No end to the difficulties is in sight for Karen refugees, so governments around the world are beginning to accept Karen people from the camps in Thailand for resettlement.
References:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_people
Wikipedia description of the Karen People
- http://www.karenpeople.org/
The Karen People
- http://www.khrg.org/
Karen Human Rights Group
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Arrival of Karen Refugees
Extracted from an emails from Wilna Parry
" Unfortunately I wasn't there to witness the arrival but Chris and her
daughter Penny took Pak Gay, Lu Wah and daughter straight to their
apartment in Surrey ( a proud moment I'm sure as it had been cleaned
and everything is in place for them to just move in) - Lu Wah (wife)
was absolutely beyond being tired so a quiet apartment is just what
they need.
Marc drove De Lia, her sister Ehmusi, Kler Paw and son; I drove
Mahtoora and Delia's 2 daughters to Welcome House where they were truly
welcomed very efficiently: I was impressed. We settled in Kler Paw's
family and hard on their heels, De Lia's parents arrived but apparently
also the parents of Lu Wah (if I understood this right?!). There will
be 6 staying in the apartment until Wednesday. Some angels provided
food (rice, greens, garlic, ginger, crackers, etc) - I believe some
Chinese fast food will also be delivered so these people don't have to
worry about cooking at least for today.
Thanks again for all who worked hard, with faith and hope, to make this
moment possible. "
Wilna Parry
July 30th, 2009
Dear friends,
As you are aware, we are sponsoring 2 Karen refugee families. We are enormously grateful for the assistance of Delia, sister to Ehmoosi (one of the families) who arrived in Vancouver a couple of years ago from a refugee camp on the Thai border. Delia was featured in 2 CBC documentaries which shed light not only on the on-going 30 year struggle of the Karens in Burma/Myanmar but also the enormous challenge Delia and others like her face in adjusting to life in Canada.
I find people are intensely interested in the families and love to hear us talk about them. We hope to have their story published in the NS News and perhaps also Outlook shortly so keep an eye out for that.
Wilna Parry
Links to stories about the Karen refugees coming to Canada (click on links):
1. CBC Story - "Delia Sie - From Burma to Canada"
2. CBC Story - "Karens of Burma - A Better Tomorrow"
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De Lia, her 2 daughters, Pak Gay holding Laura (green shirt); Ehmusi
holding son with husband Kler Paw next to her
and on the very end
is Lu Wah.
Marc and Chris are at the back. |
Dave Parry successfully backed up the truck and here they all are, ready to
help! De Lia is on the right, in the lilac top. |
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A relative of Lu Wah |
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As you can see we had
many adorable helpers! |
Marion unpacking donations in the kitchen |
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Dave and helper setting up a
dresser in the bedroom |
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