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