After living in a Vancouver shelter for the past two or three months, some Afghani refugees will soon be starting a new life in New Westminster.
Ellen Vaillancourt, who is familiar with Muslim cultures as a result of her former role with the Muslim Studies Centre at Simon Fraser University, is getting set to welcome three or four refugees into her New West home. Having space in her home to accommodate some refugees and being familiar with Muslim culture prompted the local woman to add her name to some lists of organizations welcoming refugees into Canada.
“As it turned out the most in need of housing were young men, primarily of middle eastern descent,” she told the Record. “I guess that would be because of what we see and hear in the media. There is a huge stigma or stereotype. People shy away from that.”
Vaillancourt will soon be welcoming three or four young professional men into her home. One of the men studied medicine for 13 years and worked with Doctors Without Borders for several years; another was a chief information officer with the Afghani presidential palace.
“When I am asking about their families they’ve got tears in their eyes and lumps in their throats. They have small children and wives left at home,” she said. “Given a choice they wouldn’t be here. They’d be at home with their incredible jobs, their families and their loved ones.”
With the Afghani refugees set to arrive in New Westminster anyday, Vaillancourt needs some help preparing her home for their arrival. She needs a handyman (or two) to install a kitchenette in her home and welcomes donations such as an apartment-size fridge, three to four twin beds, desks, lamps, dressers and bedding.
“Persian-style carpets would be wonderful because they don’t eat at a kitchen table. They eat kind of cross-legged on a carpet and a low table,” she said. “That’s their custom. They are very communal.”
For more information or to help, visit the Helping Ellen Help Others page on Facebook or email [email protected].
