The two-year-old, her brother Omer, 6, and parents Lema and Abdulkadar arrived in Halifax around 10 p.m. Sunday night, greeted by about 25 members of CAiRN (Communities Assisting Refugees Now), the group that arranged to bring the Syrian family to resettle in Pictou from a refugee camp in Turkey.
Through an interpreter, Lema said “Thank you, thank you, thank you” as Abdulkadar went to fetch their meagre belongings – a couple of suitcases and two bags – from the luggage carousel. “We don’t feel we’re among strangers.”
The CAiRN members arrived at the airport about an hour prior to when the flight from Toronto was scheduled to land, forming a semi-circle around the arrivals area and holding welcome signs.
As passengers from the flight entered the area, they peered at the escalator that brings travellers down from the airplane gates, anxiously looking for a family with two small children.
When the family was finally spotted, the crowd collectively smiled and clapped, waving their hands and small flags.
With tears in her eyes, Lema spoke to the interpreter in Arabic and he translated for the CAiRN members. “She’s saying the care and the love, they’ve never seen it in their life.”
CAiRN co-chairperson Stephen MacKenzie said: “To see all the planning and fundraising and volunteer hours all come together, and get to put faces to the names – it’s pretty overwhelming.”
He added: “Together we make a difference. We just saved a family.”
MacKenzie’s co-chairperson Linda Gee said: “We’re excited. It’s so exciting. It’s something we’ve been working for since last May.”
The group was formed last spring, and had to raise a minimum of $27,000 as well as provide other things such as a furnished home. They had received word that the family would arrive in January, but the plans were delayed. On Friday they found out the Casims would land this weekend.
“It’s surreal. We’re so happy. Especially where it got cancelled. We were scared to death it wouldn’t happen,” said Gee. “They’re safe in Canada now.”
She said volunteers will check on the family every day for several weeks to make sure they integrate smoothly into the community and, over a longer period of time, volunteers will continue to assist with the transition to their new life.
Anna Marie Galvin heads up the settlement committee for CAiRN, and said when the travellers arrived in Pictou on Sunday night, volunteers shared food with them and then left to allow the newcomers to get some sleep.
“They were very happy and pleased to see the home,” she said.
She said Omer is keen to start school, but that won’t happen right away, as they’re following guidelines provided by the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board regarding the transition for newcomers.
One of the welcome signs volunteers held at the airport was a banner filled with colourful handprints from students at Pictou Elementary, which he will attend. “Once he heard that, he was very eager to go to school.”
Galvin said the week ahead is filled with appointments for the family to complete paperwork and other necessary tasks. She said the family doesn’t speak very much English, and will have the assistance of interpreters.
“It’s been a long wait for all of us, but even longer for them,” she said.
The two-year-old, her brother Omer, 6, and parents Lema and Abdulkadar arrived in Halifax around 10 p.m. Sunday night, greeted by about 25 members of CAiRN (Communities Assisting Refugees Now), the group that arranged to bring the Syrian family to resettle in Pictou from a refugee camp in Turkey.
Through an interpreter, Lema said “Thank you, thank you, thank you” as Abdulkadar went to fetch their meagre belongings – a couple of suitcases and two bags – from the luggage carousel. “We don’t feel we’re among strangers.”
The CAiRN members arrived at the airport about an hour prior to when the flight from Toronto was scheduled to land, forming a semi-circle around the arrivals area and holding welcome signs.
As passengers from the flight entered the area, they peered at the escalator that brings travellers down from the airplane gates, anxiously looking for a family with two small children.
When the family was finally spotted, the crowd collectively smiled and clapped, waving their hands and small flags.
With tears in her eyes, Lema spoke to the interpreter in Arabic and he translated for the CAiRN members. “She’s saying the care and the love, they’ve never seen it in their life.”
CAiRN co-chairperson Stephen MacKenzie said: “To see all the planning and fundraising and volunteer hours all come together, and get to put faces to the names – it’s pretty overwhelming.”
He added: “Together we make a difference. We just saved a family.”
MacKenzie’s co-chairperson Linda Gee said: “We’re excited. It’s so exciting. It’s something we’ve been working for since last May.”
The group was formed last spring, and had to raise a minimum of $27,000 as well as provide other things such as a furnished home. They had received word that the family would arrive in January, but the plans were delayed. On Friday they found out the Casims would land this weekend.
“It’s surreal. We’re so happy. Especially where it got cancelled. We were scared to death it wouldn’t happen,” said Gee. “They’re safe in Canada now.”
She said volunteers will check on the family every day for several weeks to make sure they integrate smoothly into the community and, over a longer period of time, volunteers will continue to assist with the transition to their new life.
Anna Marie Galvin heads up the settlement committee for CAiRN, and said when the travellers arrived in Pictou on Sunday night, volunteers shared food with them and then left to allow the newcomers to get some sleep.
“They were very happy and pleased to see the home,” she said.
She said Omer is keen to start school, but that won’t happen right away, as they’re following guidelines provided by the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board regarding the transition for newcomers.
One of the welcome signs volunteers held at the airport was a banner filled with colourful handprints from students at Pictou Elementary, which he will attend. “Once he heard that, he was very eager to go to school.”
Galvin said the week ahead is filled with appointments for the family to complete paperwork and other necessary tasks. She said the family doesn’t speak very much English, and will have the assistance of interpreters.
“It’s been a long wait for all of us, but even longer for them,” she said.
