The Al Dabei Family: One Year On

Just a year ago, on 17 August 2015, the Al Dabei family arrived in Ottawa. Nabil, Manal, Bashar, Julie, Saly and Karim left war and hopelessness behind and started on a road of increasing independence, self-reliance and integration into Canadian life as our neighbours and friends. They brought with them an innate warmth and hospitality, a strong faith and sense of family, an openness and determination to learn, and an entrepreneurial spirit that bodes well for their future success.
 
We at St. Basil’s have been blessed to be part of their journey. Parishioners responded to the Refugee Committee’s appeal with generosity and enthusiasm and by the time the family arrived last August, we had raised money to support the family for a year, found and completely furnished an apartment for them to live in, and collected four seasons’ worth of clothing for each of them.
 
The next 12 months were the most demanding and the most challenging for both the family and for us at St Basil’s. At the beginning, we helped them navigate the bureaucratic hurdles, like obtaining health cards and registering for school and we introduced them to stores and the bus system and helped them open bank accounts and connect electronically. 
 
The on-going support provided by a dedicated group of volunteers throughout the year was perhaps the critical factor in helping the family integrate:

• A group of mostly former teachers tutored both the children and the parents in spoken and written English and the children in mathematics
• A former public health nurse organized health care for the family
• A parishioner arranged for free dental care for the entire family and she and her team accompanied them to dozens of appointments
• A parishioner familiar with the trades found Nabil a job and worked with Ontario officials to enable him to begin an expedited apprenticeship.
• Parishioners arranged for free memberships for the family at both Dovercourt Community Centre and the Boys and Girls Club where they enjoyed activities like swimming, judo, soccer, and a host of camps throughout the year
• St Basil’s families introduced the Al Dabeis to Halloween, picnicking by the river, sliding in the park and sugaring off. The family also enjoyed a week’s vacation at Waupoos Farm this summer
• Certain parishioners became special friends and mentors to the family, dropping in many times weekly, answering questions, giving guidance and advice and providing emotional support for the family
• Beyond the parish community, health providers, translators, teachers and others generously contributed services to help the family

 
Now at the end of our formal sponsorship year, the Al Dabeis are moving to financial independence, but we at St Basil’s will continue to support them as friends and “family”.
 
The Al Dabeis have moved to a larger house – a town house in the Meadowlands/Merivale area -- and the younger children will now attend St. Gregory’s and Frank Ryan schools. One of our parishioners spent countless hours finding and arranging visits to houses in the west end of the city and completing the paperwork for this move. A team of parishioners helped the family move at the end of August and arranged for hydro, insurance, electronic connections and registration of the children at new schools. Some parishioners will continue to tutor the family this year, as well as continue to provide friendship, emotional support and advocacy as their journey continues.
 
As a parish we have given – we have been generous with our money, our talents our time and our energy. This work by the parish is recognized by the Al Dabeis and they are deeply grateful for our extensive support.
 
But we as individuals and as a Christian community have gained so much more. We have been blessed by all we have witnessed and learned through our sponsorship and our friendship with the Al Dabei family. We have witnessed bravery and grace guide Nabil and Manal in adapting to a new city, a new economy and a new culture.  We have witnessed the hard work, the tears and the joy of the children as they mastered spoken English, absorbed school requirements and opportunities and experienced the fun and friendship of sports and camps.
 
We lived the corporate works of mercy. We learned that we have much to share. But most of all, we learned that it is in giving that we receive.