Saskatoon sponsor groups look to help Syrian refugees

As the plight of Syrian refugees makes international headlines, more and more people in Saskatoon are looking for ways to help.

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is just one of the organizations working to set up so-called sponsorship groups with refugee families.

“Our phone has been ringing,” said refugee program coordinator Elaine Harder, adding there are a number sponsor groups now considering support for Syrian refugees.

Sponsorship groups generally enter into a one year commitment. Harder said it costs about $32,000 to sponsor a family of four over that time, but the support is more than just financial.

“That means meeting them at the airport, helping them get oriented to the community, helping them to find employment when that becomes an option, helping them learn the language, and just being a friend,” she said.

Despite the recent interest in Syrian refugees, the MCC doesn’t have any sponsored Syrian families in Saskatoon just yet. The process, Harder said, can take a long time.

More information on the MCC’s sponsorship program can be found here.