Imagine: you’re a young woman trying to get out of South Africa, to the safety of Canada. Not only do you not have any connections in Vancouver, but your 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter are with you. In February 2009, this was the situation facing Kai Marie.
Arriving at YVR, a kind soul told Kai and her two children about a place called New Hope: safe, affordable housing, where they could be part of a community. They would meet new friends. The neighbourhood was even safe for kids! Two days after they landed, a room became free at New Hope, and Kai and her family made New Hope their home.
It wasn’t long before Kai herself became an encouragement for many at the women’s house, offering spiritual support for whoever needed it. She’s brought with her a glowing personality, and her children were soon calling everybody their uncles and aunts.
We helped the family with everything we could: winter clothes and boots for her children (it was cold out there with all the snow we had in Vancouver) and herself: food, bedding, and also welfare and school registration for her family. Church members from Faith Baptist donated furniture and foods for her family.
Kai is a very smart woman, with a background in nursing. With the help of another refugee services agency, she registered to attend Food Safe, English courses and Business classes. She eventually graduated from all these courses and started looking for a job. Well, she found one after successfully interviewing with VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee), and she starts December 1st as a food safe supervisor.
In the meantime, she is working on her nursing equivalent to allow her to work in Canada. Since September 2009, Kai and a former resident found a house to rent in a Killarney neighbourhood, and share the cost. Her children are still attending the same school and they live close to markets, church and have easy access to public transportation.
Kai and her children are already giving back to the community. Lately, her son participated at the Ride for Refugees held in Vancouver, and Kai has been helping out with New Hope Catering to gain some job experience.
This family’s story is a successful one, and we praise God for what Kai and her family have already achieved. And thanks to you, families like Kai’s will continue to find new hope and a new live in Canada.
