The darker realities of our time are well known to some of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 newest residents.
As part of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, more than 100 Syrians moved to this city in the last year to escape unfathomable brutality.
In their new homes they found safety, but it害羞草研究所檚 not been without some challenges and the highs and lows of that experience have been recorded by a local organization helping these refugees adapt to their new world.
Kelowna Community Resources has produced a film titled Taaloo Zorouna Visits with our Syrian Neighbours and it害羞草研究所檚 being screened at 2:30 p.m. Sunday March 12, at the Rotary Centre.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really a compilation of clips,害羞草研究所� said Dorothee Birker, who was the project co-ordinator.
害羞草研究所淲hat we did is meet with some of the families and shot footage of casual conversations where we asked about their experiences, their culture, what they missed about their homes and how they害羞草研究所檙e settling in.害羞草研究所�
Ultimately those clips will be put online so those who want to learn more about the families that have settled here can do so. Birker also personally gained a lot from the experience.
害羞草研究所淚 learned I害羞草研究所檓 grateful for the life I害羞草研究所檝e had, the resilience of these people and the amazing humour they害羞草研究所檝e maintained throughout this,害羞草研究所� Birker said. 害羞草研究所淲e think, 害羞草研究所榦h, these are sad circumstances.害羞草研究所� But they made us laugh so much when we were asking our questions.害羞草研究所�
These men, women and children, she said, are generous and empathetic, even as they mourned the end of life as they knew it. They害羞草研究所檝e found that positivity by focusing on what they can do to build the best life possible, and that害羞草研究所檚 something Birker wants the community to know.
害羞草研究所淲e did this because we wanted to dispel myths and fears,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hese families didn害羞草研究所檛 choose to leave because they wanted to have a new adventure.害羞草研究所�
They had a choice to stay (in Syria) and potentially not survive or go and build a better life.
害羞草研究所淔or all of them it was their kid害羞草研究所檚 future that brought them to Canada,害羞草研究所� she said.
And through the filming process she had a first hand view of how those kids are starting to flourish.
害羞草研究所淭hese are really casual shots offering a natural glimpse into their lives and you害羞草研究所檒l see kids climbing on top of parents,害羞草研究所� said Birker.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e also starting to translate for the parents, which shows they害羞草研究所檙e taking an adult role in their families.害羞草研究所�
Each video is between one and three minutes and addresses questions Canadians may have and shares perspectives and hopes from our new neighbours.
害羞草研究所淲e looked at actions we could do to help Syrians in the community. One of the things identified was that the creation of such videos would help explain and give information around Syrian life and the families and individuals moving to the community,害羞草研究所� said Katelin Mitchell, immigrant services manager, for KCR .
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an awareness piece to showcase some of the similarities and some of the things they felt important to them and what they wanted to share.害羞草研究所�
Mitchell said the end result is wonderful and she害羞草研究所檚 excited for the community to see it this weekend.
This project was made possible with funding from the Refugee Readiness Fund which is part of the WelcomeBC umbrella of services, through funding from the Province of British Columbia.
The videos were produced in partnership with the Refugee Response Team - Thompson Okanagan and Kootenays, the ECO Art Incubator and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Creative & Critical Studies Department.
The event is free and everyone is welcome.
