Refugee Sponsorship

In the late 1970s, as a result of the war in Viet Nam, refugees became an issue for R-W outreach. We sponsored the first of our refugee families, so-called ‘boat people’, and worked hard to raise money and to assist this first family to adapt to Canada and to Edmonton and to rebuild successful lives. In the 28 intervening years, we have been involved with sponsoring or assisting many families and individuals as refugees from countries as diverse as Viet Nam, Kosovo, Eritrea and Somalia.

Though this work has involved many frustrating delays and problems, it continues today. Two members of our committee are currently exploring a new refugee project that we hope to initiate in 2008. This may involve another sponsorship of a family, or some assistance with the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers projects. We feel that our refugee projects have been very successful both in terms of the assistance to the refugees and in the enrichment of the lives of our members that close contact with the refugees has provided.