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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 25, 2016 | 16 Two churches reach out to Myanmar refugee family by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Two church groups, which united to bring a refugee family to Oakville, say it was a rewarding experience that requires real commitment from those involved. The refugee sponsorship team, made up of congregation members of St. Paul's United Church and Glen Abbey United Church, brought a family of three from Myanmar to Oakville in December 2015. After two months in Canada, the family, whose names have been withheld to protect their privacy, is doing well and adjusting to their new lives, according to team members. Eager to get started "They are very eager to get started and learn English and get going with their lives and settle and move on," said Carolyn Stinson, a committee member from St. Paul's. "They are very focused on improving things." Stinson said interest in sponsoring a refugee family emerged at St. Paul's last June at the church's annual picnic. A conversation about world events led to a discussion on the conflict in Syria and the tragic images being broadcast via the media. As the church has a history of sponsoring refugees, having sponsored a Vietnamese K a r a s t a n A r e a R u g s months of income support after its arrival in Canada. Private sponsors must provide another six months of financial support and up to a year of social and emotional support for the newcomers. Undeterred by initial setback While the church group decided to sponsor a refugee family because of the Syrian conflict, its members were surprised when they began inquiring about sponsorships in September 2015 that there were no vetted Syrian families available. Undeterred, they moved forward to help another refugee family. "We got together as a committee and realized there are so many refugees in the world who are in need and who are maybe not getting the media attention the Syrians are," said Stinson. The church selected a family of three from Myanmar. The husband, wife and their two-year-old daughter are members of the Chin minority and fled persecution in Myanmar, taking temporary refuge in nearby Malaysia. As the church group settled on the details of its sponsorship, they consulted with the community and partnered with Glen Abbey United Church, which had a similar interest in assisting a refugee family. see Support on p.19 Pictured, from left, Chris Middlebro, Paul Peters, Wendy Walker, Carolyn Stinson, Jackie Dicauro and Deborah Laforet, a group from both St. Paul's United Church and Glen Abbey United Church that has come together to sponsor a family from Myanmar. | photo by Jayson Mills ­ special to the Beaver family to come to Canada in the 1970s, the group determined it was time to act again. The group decided sponsoring a refugee family through the federal government's · M i r a g e H a r d w o o d Blended Visa Office-Referred Program made the most sense. Under that program, the government vets the refugee family and provides up to six Peerless Carpeting · Buyers Edge Guarantee · 200 Store Buying Power 125 CROSS AVE. KeeP your Family 2015 Platinum Award thank you for voting us 2015 Platinum best Heating & air conditioning company Persian Rugs MANUFACTURER'S MANUFACTURER'S REBATE REBATE SALE! SAVE SAVE UP TO 50% 1/2 PRICE Any Carpet Style · Berber · Twist · Plush · Shag · Textured Berber 10 YEAR PARTS & LABOUR WARRANTY* Replace YouR FuRnace & aiR conditioneR $ in rebates & Discounts Are You ou Ready? In 2016! UP TO · Peerless $ Installed with Underpad $ 2.99 2,350 /sq.ft. Carpeting MIRAGE HARDWOOD VOTED #1 6 YEARS IN A ROW! RECEIVE A CASH REBATE DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER 5.99 /sq.ft. Starting at backed by coleman's 100% satisfaction Guarantee* ALL IN-STOCK AREA RUGS UP TO 1/2 PRICE OR LESS We SeRvIce All MAKeS OF cenTRAl AIR cOndITIOneRS And GAS FURnAceS · 200 *Limited Time offer. O.A.C. See store for details. AREA RUGS M i r a g e $ 5' X 8' STARTING AT FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ONLY: 99 K a r a s t a n APPLEBY 24 HR EMERGENCY OAKVILLE905.825.1893 FIREPLACE, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS BURLINGTON905.335.3203 HAMILTON 905.540.9153 Store Buying Power SYSTEMS SERVICE 2086 SpeeRS Rd., oakville Come See Our SHOWROOM Mon - Fri. 8am ­ 5pm; Saturday 11am ­ 4pm OPEN SUNDAYS 125 CROSS AVENUE, (across from Oakville Go Station) Oakville 905.849.4472 H a rd w o o d · SUPERSTORE Like Us /flooringca · 228 KING ST. E. Hamilton 905-546-1921 P e r s i a n R u g s C a r p e t i n g www.applebysystems.ca