It was a packed house and the floor boards were vibrating as the Eclectic Vinyl Orchestra took to the stage, kicking off the Jan. 24 Under the Same Sky refugee soiree at the Elora Brewing Company.
Under the Same Sky’s Karina Cranston welcomed participants to the benefit saying, “Thank you for taking the time to come out to show your support.”
Under the Same Sky is a group of local citizens who are raising awareness regarding the plight of individuals affected by the international refugee crisis – and raising funds to bring refugee families to Centre Wellington.
“Our adventure began this past September when we met together in a living room to talk about what we could do in light of the refugee crisis,” said Cranston.
She added the group came up with ideas “and it was a no-brainer that we should start the process by sponsoring a refugee family and bring them to Centre Wellington.”
Cranston explained the group named itself Under the Same Sky “… and I think the name speaks for itself.”
The group decided to partner with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), “which does amazing work throughout the world – especially with refugee sponsorship, Cranston said.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received so far. It’s amazing what a group of people can do when they come together as a whole to raise money to help people who are in need.”
Cranston added, “We’re here to learn, listen, share stories, enjoy friends, good music and good food. But most of all we’re here to show our support for a family that is in desperate need of a loving, safe and caring community. Let’s all of us be that community when they arrive.”
She noted the group anticipates the first family will arrive in the Centre Wellington area within the next few months.
Hundred Hearts Campaign
The night also marked the launch of the group’s Hundred Hearts Campaign. Cranston explained, “We are asking for 100 people to donate $100 by the end of February.”
For additional information or to participate, people can email the group at underthesameskycw@gmail.com.
“If they donate online, we are asking them to let us know so that we can give them a special hand-made pottery heart as a thank you (the group does not have access to see who donates online). They can also pay by cash or cheque,” officials state.
Guest speaker
The night featured a number of speakers, including MCC Ontario Refugee sponsorship associate Kaylee Perez, who stated, “I am daily in awe of the amazing country we live in. We are making history in Canada right now, just by being in this room and coming together, deciding to do something about this refugee crisis.” She added, “There are more refugees today than there have been since the Second World War.
“Thank you for being one of those groups which has taken action.”
She said MCC is currently working with 45 countries world wide. In Ontario, one of the key programs is the refugee sponsorship program, she said.
In 2015 MCC worked with eight sponsorship groups to sponsor 56 refugees. This year, it is now working with over 150 groups, Perez said.
As of Jan. 21, Canada has had 11,866 Syrian refugees arrive, with 5,651 settling in Ontario – and 367 of those in the Waterloo region.
“What I love about refugee sponsorship is that it is truly a ‘communitarian’ approach to peace, which inspires and requires the commitment to long-term sustainable peace. As a group you are committing to building relationships with these families,” said Perez.
“Refugee sponsorship is based on the desire to do the right thing and to stand up for the displaced and the oppressed.”
Perez noted, “An old Celtic saying states – we live in the shelter of each other. That shelter is found not only among our own kind – people with similar eating habits, skin colour, ways of thinking and manner of dress … but also in the shelter of others who are different from us. It is a shelter in which we can explore our differences, eat each other’s food, cry and laugh with each other, and dispel our false notions about each other.”
She commented, “with the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut, the international community has once again began to question whether or not we should be bringing in Middle Eastern refugees.”
Perez then quoted part of an article published in the New York Times, “Fearing fear itself,” in which author Paul Krugman stated, “The biggest danger terrorism poses to our society comes not from the direct harm inflicted but from the wrong-heated responses it can inspire.”
Perez stated simply, “unless you are of indigenous descent, we were all welcomed or let into Canada at some point.” She said, “Welcoming newcomers is part of our history and who we are as a nation. We must not let fear overrule the responsibility to protect human life.”
She agreed there needs to be a balance to protect the lives of Canadian citizens and the refugees, but she stressed “It can be done while letting in refugees who desperately require our help. The most important thing our society can do is refuse to give into that fear.”
Unique opportunity
Perez said she considers private sponsorship a unique opportunity for local residents to commit to long-term sustainable peace. While the financial commitment is for one year, Perez said the relationships built between families over that time will last a lifetime.
She encouraged residents to consider private sponsorship of a refugee family.
“As blessed Canadians who live secure, comfortable lives it is easy to write a cheque and donate to an international relief effort” said Perez.
She also encouraged locals “to consider being pushed outside of your comfort zone and committing to the long-term settlement support in this way because it is truly an example of peace building in Canada.”
For updates visit facebook.com/UndertheSameSkyCW or on twitter @underthesameskycw. To donate, visit mcccanada.ca/registry/under-same-sky.
