Notice Board

The University of Lethbridge Refugee Action Committee is a volunteer group of the University community formed to sponsor a refugee family to come to Canada and settle in Lethbridge.   There is a desperate humanitarian crisis taking place as millions continue to flee Syria. To be able to come to Canada, refugees need private sponsorship. The Canadian government estimates that it will take about $30,000 to support a family for one year. In addition to the financial contribution, the initiative also requires ongoing contact and support for the family for at least the first year. 

To leverage existing expertise in the community, we are joining with other community partners who have already begun the processing of bringing Syrian families to Canada. “From Syria to Lethbridge” is an umbrella group that will work with ecumenical and community groups such as ours to sponsor additional families. It already has established a relationship with the Mennonite Central Committee, which is a government-approved “Sponsorship Agreement Holder.” The UofL Refugee Action Committee will partner with the University Chaplain, Erin Phillips and her church, the Anglican Church of the Ascension, which welcomes non-denominational community partners. Moreover, they are able to issue tax receipts for donations.  We will work together with the larger “From Syria to Lethbridge” group. The aim of these coalitions is to create a community of support.  Because of the broad nature of this community support, the Mennonite Central Committee has made Lethbridge a priority centre.

A benefit of this initiative is that 100% of funds donated will go directly to settling refugee families in this community.

If you would like to contribute financially, or in other ways (such as fundraising, donating required goods, helping settle the family once they’ve arrived, or in other ways), please visit www.uleth.ca/president/syria to complete the donation form.  Or for more information, talk to anyone on the committee, or email Anne Dymond at anne.dymond@uleth.ca

There will be a forum to discuss this initiative on Monday September 28, at 12:00, in W646 (Boardroom).

For ongoing updates, see our facebook group “UofL Refugee Action” at https://www.facebook.com/groups/421781628014907/ 

Refugee Action Committee: Robin Bright, James Dobbie, Anne Dymond, Luis Escobar, Claudia Gonzalez, Jean Harrowing, David Logue, Jamie MacKenzie, and  Erin Phillips.