The darker realities of our time are well known to some of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 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 it香蕉视频直播檚 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 it香蕉视频直播檚 being screened at 2:30 p.m. Sunday March 12, at the Rotary Centre.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really a compilation of clips,香蕉视频直播� said Dorothee Birker, who was the project co-ordinator.
香蕉视频直播淲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 they香蕉视频直播檙e settling in.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 learned I香蕉视频直播檓 grateful for the life I香蕉视频直播檝e had, the resilience of these people and the amazing humour they香蕉视频直播檝e maintained throughout this,香蕉视频直播� Birker said. 香蕉视频直播淲e think, 香蕉视频直播榦h, these are sad circumstances.香蕉视频直播� But they made us laugh so much when we were asking our questions.香蕉视频直播�
These men, women and children, she said, are generous and empathetic, even as they mourned the end of life as they knew it. They香蕉视频直播檝e found that positivity by focusing on what they can do to build the best life possible, and that香蕉视频直播檚 something Birker wants the community to know.
香蕉视频直播淲e did this because we wanted to dispel myths and fears,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hese families didn香蕉视频直播檛 choose to leave because they wanted to have a new adventure.香蕉视频直播�
They had a choice to stay (in Syria) and potentially not survive or go and build a better life.
香蕉视频直播淔or all of them it was their kid香蕉视频直播檚 future that brought them to Canada,香蕉视频直播� she said.
And through the filming process she had a first hand view of how those kids are starting to flourish.
香蕉视频直播淭hese are really casual shots offering a natural glimpse into their lives and you香蕉视频直播檒l see kids climbing on top of parents,香蕉视频直播� said Birker.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e also starting to translate for the parents, which shows they香蕉视频直播檙e taking an adult role in their families.香蕉视频直播�
Each video is between one and three minutes and addresses questions Canadians may have and shares perspectives and hopes from our new neighbours.
香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� said Katelin Mitchell, immigrant services manager, for KCR .
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
Mitchell said the end result is wonderful and she香蕉视频直播檚 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.
