She has arrived!

Dear friends of the James Bay Refugee Initiative -  

We have just come back from showing a beautiful, strong, brave woman her new apartment in Victoria.  

Yes, this is the news we have been waiting for, and it is very good news indeed. Laila, the refugee from Syria whose arrival we have been anticipating is here and she is now a permanent resident of Canada!  

On Wednesday, April 12th, she boarded the first of four planes that would take her to Victoria, not knowing there would be anybody to meet her, to show her around, to care about her...imagine the courage!  

There were tears and hugs, smiles, chocolates and flowers at the Victoria airport as we met this young woman for whose arrival we had been preparing for such a long time.  

Laila wanted us to give you all a message.  She said she is very happy to be here and is so thankful for all the people who made it possible for her to come to Victoria, a place that is more beautiful than she could have imagined.   

Laila talked about her mother’s desire for her children to have something more in their lives than the very difficult labour she herself experienced while working a farm, so she saw to it that Laila was educated. 

Her English is very good and she is aware of the need to study to become even more fluent.  She is thirsty for more knowledge.

Laila wants to meet many different people, people who might look at life in a way that is unfamiliar to her and who will give her new eyes.  She wants to be a productive member of Canadian society and to give back as a way to say thank you for the gift of this new life.  

So for now, Laila is staying in the warm and caring home of a member of the JBRI steering committee. Very soon she will move into her apartment and begin doing the work that is required of her in her quest to make a life here.  

It is very good work we have done. Thank you.  

Aleksa, for the James Bay Refugee Initiative steering committee