Melodie McCullough has grown to think of a Kurdish-Syrian family she helped settle in Peterborough as members of her own family.
The Almohamads — a mother, father, and four children — came to the city almost seven years ago. McCullough became acquainted with them as she was part of the family’s support group organized by the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough.
Upon learning that the Almohamads’ relatives living in Lebanon are in danger, McCullough and other members of the Peterborough Kurdish Refugee Support group are trying to bring them to Canada.
The Peterborough resident, along with fellow residents Mary and Terry Ward, have formed the group to privately sponsor the family through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
But they need help. The group is currently raising money and reaching out to the Peterborough community for donations.
“Before we can apply for sponsorship, we need to raise $32,000 which will show the Canadian government we will be able to support the family during the first year they are here,” McCullough noted.
She said it’s a priority to bring this specific family to Peterborough because of its current unsafe circumstances. Farhan Almohamad, who is the father of the Peterborough family, is worried for his sister, her husband, her 12-year-old son and 11-year-old twin boys, who are currently living as refugees in Lebanon.
“It’s important because they are in serious danger right now where they are living,” McCullough explained. “Before the Israel-Hamas war, there was concern about them being sent back to Syria, so they were hiding in a basement. The war and the bombing have upped the danger.”
Recently, one of the children was in a store near their home at the time a bomb went off in it. There were no injuries, just damage, but it was a “very frightening” experience for an 11-year-old child.
The group has made considerable headway in terms of donations but still needs to raise approximately $10,000.
“As soon as we raise the money, we can send in the government forms and start the sponsorship process, so our timeline is as soon as possible,” McCullough said.
She added the best thing that could happen as a result of the effort would be welcoming the family to the city.
“The absolute best thing would be to see this family land at Toronto Pearson Airport, to hold them close to us, and bring them home to Peterborough to start their new life.”
Their cousins — the Almohamads’ children — who are about the same age, are looking forward to introducing the boys to life in Canada, McCullough noted.
Meanwhile, the Almohamads have become part of McCullough’s own family.
“We spend many days together. We have watched their children grow into responsible, kind, and loving citizens of our city who excel at school, sports, and volunteer work,” she said.
“We have also welcomed two new children to their family. I love them all very much and consider the children to be my grandchildren. They have enriched our lives beyond measure.”
With Farhan Almohamad’s sister and her family living in southern Lebanon, bombs from Israel are falling close by in interaction with Hezbollah fighters — part of the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war.
“The family is sheltering as best they can,” McCullough said. “They do not have money to move further away.”
Adding to the risk, the Lebanese government has also begun deporting Syrians back to Syria. If the family is sent back, the father would very likely be tortured or killed, McCullough said.
On Sunday, January 28, the film Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story, about a group of Kurdish refugees in Sweden who defy all odds to climb the ranks of Sweden’s soccer leagues in hopes of becoming champions, is being shown at the ReFrame Film Festival at 12:30 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough. McCullough’s group will have an information table in the foyer to accept donations in person.
For more information and to make a donation online, visit the GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/f/skn687-help-reunite-this-family.
