The darker realities of our time are well known to some of Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 newest residents.
As part of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, more than 100 Syrians moved to this city in the last year to escape unfathomable brutality.
In their new homes they found safety, but it91裸聊视频檚 not been without some challenges and the highs and lows of that experience have been recorded by a local organization helping these refugees adapt to their new world.
Kelowna Community Resources has produced a film titled Taaloo Zorouna Visits with our Syrian Neighbours and it91裸聊视频檚 being screened at 2:30 p.m. Sunday March 12, at the Rotary Centre.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really a compilation of clips,91裸聊视频� said Dorothee Birker, who was the project co-ordinator.
91裸聊视频淲hat we did is meet with some of the families and shot footage of casual conversations where we asked about their experiences, their culture, what they missed about their homes and how they91裸聊视频檙e settling in.91裸聊视频�
Ultimately those clips will be put online so those who want to learn more about the families that have settled here can do so. Birker also personally gained a lot from the experience.
91裸聊视频淚 learned I91裸聊视频檓 grateful for the life I91裸聊视频檝e had, the resilience of these people and the amazing humour they91裸聊视频檝e maintained throughout this,91裸聊视频� Birker said. 91裸聊视频淲e think, 91裸聊视频榦h, these are sad circumstances.91裸聊视频� But they made us laugh so much when we were asking our questions.91裸聊视频�
These men, women and children, she said, are generous and empathetic, even as they mourned the end of life as they knew it. They91裸聊视频檝e found that positivity by focusing on what they can do to build the best life possible, and that91裸聊视频檚 something Birker wants the community to know.
91裸聊视频淲e did this because we wanted to dispel myths and fears,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hese families didn91裸聊视频檛 choose to leave because they wanted to have a new adventure.91裸聊视频�
They had a choice to stay (in Syria) and potentially not survive or go and build a better life.
91裸聊视频淔or all of them it was their kid91裸聊视频檚 future that brought them to Canada,91裸聊视频� she said.
And through the filming process she had a first hand view of how those kids are starting to flourish.
91裸聊视频淭hese are really casual shots offering a natural glimpse into their lives and you91裸聊视频檒l see kids climbing on top of parents,91裸聊视频� said Birker.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e also starting to translate for the parents, which shows they91裸聊视频檙e taking an adult role in their families.91裸聊视频�
Each video is between one and three minutes and addresses questions Canadians may have and shares perspectives and hopes from our new neighbours.
91裸聊视频淲e looked at actions we could do to help Syrians in the community. One of the things identified was that the creation of such videos would help explain and give information around Syrian life and the families and individuals moving to the community,91裸聊视频� said Katelin Mitchell, immigrant services manager, for KCR .
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an awareness piece to showcase some of the similarities and some of the things they felt important to them and what they wanted to share.91裸聊视频�
Mitchell said the end result is wonderful and she91裸聊视频檚 excited for the community to see it this weekend.
This project was made possible with funding from the Refugee Readiness Fund which is part of the WelcomeBC umbrella of services, through funding from the Province of British Columbia.
The videos were produced in partnership with the Refugee Response Team - Thompson Okanagan and Kootenays, the ECO Art Incubator and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Creative & Critical Studies Department.
The event is free and everyone is welcome.
