The first Syrian family to move to Cochrane has officially been in Canada for one month.
During a recent birthday party for one of the daughters, the family, sponsors and friends sat down with the Eagle to discuss how life has changed since leaving Syria.
A new family friend and Cochranite Mary Attalla, originally from Syria, helped translate for Joseph and Carolen Kumous.
“The quality of life is much better, there is peace,” Attalla translated for Joseph.
“He said he is fortunate in that he came here for his kids because now there is a future for them and safety for them… even if they are on the street you are always worried a bomb is going to take them out or somebody is going to kidnap them. So that is his biggest blessing is he knows his whole family is going to be safe.”
The situation in Syria has been going for the past four and a half years, starting in 2012 with anti-government protests that lead into a civil war that is currently on-going. In August 2015, the United Nations (UN) estimated that 250,000 Syrians had been killed due to the Syria conflict.
The Kumous family arrived in Cochrane on Feb. 9 from a refugee camp in Lebanon, three weeks earlier than their expected arrival.
Sponsoring family Bernie Cabot and Nancy Normore helped secure an apartment three days before their arrival – and with the help of the Cochrane High School (CHS) leadership program, the house is now fully furnished with clothing for all four of the daughters.
“I just want to thank the teachers of the leadership program, Gale Cote and Lisa Gordon Reece, for letting me do this campaign with them,” said Natalie Power, who asked to start the collection campaign with CHS.
Since the family arrived, the sponsoring Cochranites have helped the family get their health cards, get set up with a family doctor, secure part-time work for Joseph and enroll the three daughters in Holy Spirit School.
“We are about four months ahead of where we were expected to be and we are only one month into it. We are way ahead,” Cabot exclaimed.
The family is currently working on helping Joseph secure a second part-time job so he can reclaim his independence.
“He is saying a month has passed by and he didn’t even feel it. It’s been so great with Mr. Bernie and Nancy,” Attalla helped translate for Joseph.
“It is like being part of a family, not like a sponsor or charity act, it is like family, true family.”
Normore also wanted to thank the residents of Cochrane for being so supportive.
“We want to thank the community of Cochrane and the Cochrane High School and the leadership program – I don’t know how we would’ve done it without them,” Normore said.
The Cabots are still accepting monetary donations for the Kumous’ with St. Mary’s Parish in Cochrane. For more information call 403-932-2944 or email Natalie Power at [email protected]
