Syrian Refugee Family Update: January 14, 2022

The Bakir family continues to settle in after their arrival in the U.S. in September. The UCE community’s generous response to our fundraiser in the fall means that they have their rent paid for December-February. And the extra good news is that we received an endowment grant that will help them out with rent over the spring months as well.

We have purchased clothes for them and they received many lovely gifts from Mitten tree donors as well. The kids are adjusting to school in Skokie. The mother, Ghurfran, will soon begin learning English in an Oakton Community College class. Right now, the class is taught remotely, so she is getting a laptop and will be learning how to use that as well. But in the future, she may go to an on-campus class. The kids receive tutoring through Catholic Charities, but if anyone is interested in helping to tutor Ghufran, please email Jeanne Kerl at figkerl@gmail.com.

Aya Haj Khalaf and her husband Basil (Aya is Ghurfan’s niece and a member of our original Syrian refugee family) had a new baby in October. They also have a 2-year-old son, Keenan.  Marilyn Wroblewski and Carol Nielsen will help Aya by taking Keenan to a local church’s daycare program once a week. He will get to play with other children (a rare thing during COVID) and Aya will get a little break. Aya acts as the main support for her Aunt’s family as she translates for them and helps them negotiate how to live in our culture.

Thank you so much to everyone who has given so generously to support this family.  If you want to help out, email Jeanne Kerl at figkerl@gmail.com:

Thanks again to everyone for their help.

—The Immigrant Solidarity Team