The Al Zhouri Family
Top left to right: Majd, Aghyode. Bottom left-right: Toufic, Rabiaa, Ranim.
The Al Zhouri family fled Homs, Syria, after their home was destroyed by a bomb. They left behind a farm, employment, and schooling. The social fabric of their daily lives was lost, as friends and family were displaced, and some lost, by the conflict. Their story has been told in this Chronicle Herald article and in the Far and Wide series produced by the UNHCR.
Their first time seeing Canada was also their first time feeling snow. Thanks to SAFE, the three children, Majd, Ranim and Agyhode, settled in at the Dr. J. H. Gillis Regional High School. Rabiaa and Toufic began English as a Second Language classes at ACALA (Antigonish County Adult Learning Association). The SAFE volunteers oriented them to living here, ranging from shopping to shovelling snow.
The family has been doing extremely well. Not only was 19 year old Majd able to return to school, he successfully auditioned for the part of Prince Amir for the production of The Ash Girl presented by Theatre Antigonish. As noted in this article, this was a touching example of art imitating life. In the spring of 2017, Majd preformed a one act play entitled "To Eat an Almond", based on his life story. The performance earned him the 2017 National Fresh Voices Artivism Award. He has just completed his first year of study in Engineering at St. Francis Xavier University.
Ranim and Agyhode are studying hard at the high school. Ranim is preparing to attend St. Francis Xavier University next year.
Rabiaa has been doing well with an upholstery business and selling baked goods at the farmer's market, and Toufic is currently employed through the Mulroney Institute project at St. Francis Xavier University,
The Hadhad Family
For more than 20 years the Hadhad's shipped their specialty treats all over the Middle East to countries like Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon. Like much of their homeland, the Hadhad chocolate factory was destroyed in a bombing that forced their family to leave everything behind and flee to Lebanon. Their extended family was also forced out of Damascus.
"For three years we found our home in a refugee camp with little opportunity or hope. Our lives had been forever altered and we dreamed of returning to the lives we love. When our family was invited into Canada to become full Canadian citizens, our dreams came true. With the support of our SAFE, our new community Antigonish and the people of Nova Scotia, we are rebuilding our chocolate company and are once again doing the work we love."
Their company, Peace by Chocolate, has done exceptionally well, and their story has been shared widely, including by Prime Minister Trudeau.
"For three years we found our home in a refugee camp with little opportunity or hope. Our lives had been forever altered and we dreamed of returning to the lives we love. When our family was invited into Canada to become full Canadian citizens, our dreams came true. With the support of our SAFE, our new community Antigonish and the people of Nova Scotia, we are rebuilding our chocolate company and are once again doing the work we love."
Their company, Peace by Chocolate, has done exceptionally well, and their story has been shared widely, including by Prime Minister Trudeau.
The Hadhad Family in front of Peace By Chocolate