Q & A's

Why have you undertaken this Project?

• Like many Canadians, the images of the struggles of the estimated 4 million refugees are just too tragic for us to ignore. We know we can't help the millions, but we and other grass-roots organizations in Canada and around the world can make a real difference to alleviate the suffering. It could well be the defining acts of our generation. As Robert Kennedy once famously said: "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."

What are your main objectives?

• Our initial objectives when we began this journey were to raise $100,000 by the end of 2015 and then to use the funds to successfully re-settle three refugee families, integrating them into the fabric of Canadian society, so that they will have useful happy and productive lives among us. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to meet our initial financial objective. Our focus has now shifted to welcoming refugee families into the community and helping them start their lives anew.

How can I donate?

• The Perth and District Community Foundation has set up a fund for this purpose and offering charitable receipts to all donors. You may donate by clicking on the Donate button in the menu above and clicking on the Donate Now button to donate online or by sending in your cheque as indicated on that page. Although we have met our initial financial objective, we want to continue to support the resettlement of additional refugee families as long as there is a pressing need.

How can I volunteer to help?

• We have been so fortunate to have had so many talented volunteers step forward to offer to help welcome refugee families into this community. Our volunteer teams are fairly complete at this time, but we are still in need of volunteers who are able to communicate in Arabic, or who may have a Syrian connection. The CARR may well need additional volunteers down the road with different skills to reach its destination. Please check out our Volunteer page and let us know if you think you have the interest and skills to help us on this journey. Please feel free to talk to any of the Team leaders to get a sense of what might be involved.

How long will it take to bring refugees in?

• We  hope to welcome our first refugee family within the first quarter of 2016, with the other two families hopefully arriving within the next two quarters.

Shouldn't we be helping less fortunate Canadians first?

• We think we, as Canadians, can do both simultaneously. Canada is a wealthy country with a reputation for compassion and this generous spirit can, and should, be channelled towards assisting the less-fortune among us, both here at home and around this global village. The focus of The CARR is on alleviating the plight of the most disadvantaged group of people in the world ~ the millions of refugees who have lost everything, including so many loved ones, through no fault of their own.