Religious leaders across Greater Victoria have come together to bring a Syrian Palestinian refugee family to Canada. But time is of the essence in their bid to find a new home for the family fleeing the war-torn region.

The 14-member group spans the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, uniting to fundraise and sponsor a Syrian Palestinian widow and her two teenage children. Christ Church Cathedral and Congregation Emmanu-El Synagogue have collaborated with the group providing donations and event space. 

The group unofficially refers to itself as The Gleamers, a reference to their more official campaign title B次元官网网址淕leam of Hope.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e're a group of people who decided, OK we're doing this, and we are doing it together,B次元官网网址� said Dahlia Beck, a Jewish woman originally from Israel. She began working with refugees in 2016 after hearing the story of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy who drowned in the Aegean Sea when the boat carrying him and 13 other Syrian refugees sank.

B次元官网网址淚 grew up thinking that the Syrians were B次元官网网址榯he enemy,B次元官网网址� and I thought, OK, I am called to action here, that's crap B次元官网网址� enemy, shmenemy,B次元官网网址� Beck said.

For Beck, having multiple faiths represented in the team shows that religious differences need not be a barrier to humanitarian work.

B次元官网网址淟et's just work together to humanize whoever requires help. I think the takeaway is we can all do it, and it doesn't matter,B次元官网网址� she said.

The widow they hope to sponsor was born in Syria after her family was forcibly removed from Palestine during the Nakba in 1948. After a life in Syria, her husband was killed during the civil war and she fled with her children.

While many on the sponsorship team have years of experience working with refugees, this effort is different. Sponsorship groups typically work with the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), which selects refugees to sponsor. However, this initiative began with a personal connection when May Shihadeh, a Muslim Syrian Palestinian herself, was approached by a refugee she had previously sponsored.

B次元官网网址淎 year or two after we finished their sponsorship agreement, the person from that country begged me to sponsor a widow with two children. He told me about their story,B次元官网网址� said Shihadeh, who then presented the idea to her team.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e still in a hidden place, and they have no access to work, education or health care. She pays her rent through donations from people who know about them. They still live in fear because they are at risk of being captured and imprisoned.B次元官网网址�

Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, a Jewish member of the team, was inspired to work with refugees by his grandparents, who fled Nazi Germany for the United Kingdom. Many of his relatives, however, were unable to escape.

B次元官网网址淚 relate to the trauma that refugees go through before theyB次元官网网址檙e able to come to Canada,B次元官网网址� he said.

Oppenheimer said it is now harder than ever for sponsorship teams to bring refugees into Canada. The ICA facilitates much of the process for sponosorship groups managing funds and ensuring proper oversite, but recent funding cuts have drastically reduced the number of sponsorships it can take on.

B次元官网网址淣ormally, there would be a lot of groups working to develop sponsorships to submit to the government in the fall, but this year, they have literally a handful of slots. We were very fortunate to get one,B次元官网网址� he said.

Even after the ICA agreed to take on their sponsorship, the team is still up against the wall.

B次元官网网址淣ormally, when you do this, you have 10 months to a year to raise the funds. We were given two months,B次元官网网址� said Oppenheimer.

The Gleamers need to raise a minimum of $60,000 to bring the family to Canada. About half of that B次元官网网址� $28,000 B次元官网网址� must be in their account by the end of March.

B次元官网网址淭hat money covers everything,B次元官网网址� Beck said. B次元官网网址淚t means housing, furniture, A/C, kitchen accessories, a bus pass, help finding work, ESL connections B次元官网网址� you name it B次元官网网址� for a whole year.B次元官网网址�

Securing accommodations remains a major challenge unto itself as housing prices continue to rise in the region.

B次元官网网址淏ecause the rental cost is so high, it has been very challenging to find a place that fits within our budget,B次元官网网址� said Shihadeh.

Despite the challenges, the opportunity to help these people start a new life keeps the team members coming back.

B次元官网网址淚t's multi-layered. It's depressing, it's agonizing, but also uplifting in a way. It shows me how creative and helpful we can be,B次元官网网址� Beck said.

B次元官网网址淭o give somebody hope of living in peace and dignity without fear, to have the opportunity for employment, education and health care B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 very rewarding for me,B次元官网网址� Shihadeh said.

Gleam of Hope will host an admission by-donation fundraising concert for the family on March 26. The event will feature an evening of Arabic, Celtic and Jewish music at Christ Church Cathedral from 7 to 9 p.m. with Middle Eastern delicacies provided at intermission. 

Those interested in learning more or donating can contact Congregation Emanu-El at 250-382-0615 or Christ Church Catherdral by emailing giving@christchurchcathedral.bc.ca.