It is great to see so many people from the TrueCity churches coming alongside the newly arrived Karen families through SISO’s HOST program. The concept is simple- SISO matches your family with a Karen family so that you can provide friendship, and help orient them to their new community. It is a great program and the benefits to both families are enormous. Our family has enjoyed taking our Karen family swimming at the local rec centre and watching the kids giggle with excitement as it was the first time they had ever gone swimming. We have introduced them to Canadian traditions like colouring Easter eggs and eating mashed potatoes. We have helped them learn to write cheques, and set up an email account. We have taken them to church with us. We have enjoyed sharing meals together and learning about their life in Burma and Thailand. Their stories of pain and struggle are incredibly inspiring to us and our children who can now connect real people with the images of refugee camps they have seen on TV.
This May Hamilton is anticipating the arrival of 100 more Karen people. They will need Canadian families to befriend them and help them adjust to living in Hamilton. Why not be one of those families? If you are interested please give Arsim Aliu a call at SISO. His phone number is: 905-667-7480
Help to keep Micah House beautiful! Spring cleaning projects include washing windows, scrubbing and painting walls; cleaning the yard; dusting those hard to reach spaces that never get dusted!
Friends on the Move – Walk-a-thon Fundraiser – June 20, 2007 at Gage Park
