Amina and her 3 boys
Amina and her three boys, Abdulahi, 13, Abdihakin, 12, and Abdihamid, 8, arrived in Canada, October 20, 2017. For the first couple of days they lived with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton before moving into a 2 bedroom apartment. In a Zoom interview with the family I learned a little about their adjustments to Canada.
Q. Where did you live before coming to Canada?
We lived in Camp Kakuma, in Kenya with thousands of other refugees in tents and we went to school in the Camp. (Camp Kakuma is considered one of the largest refugee camps in the world according to statistics published in 2019)
Q. What do you miss most about Kakuma?
All three boys said emphatically, we miss our friends! We used to play a lot of tag, hide and seek, and soccer. After we finish our education we will go back to Kenya for a visit to reconnect with our friends.
Q. What do you like about your home in Canada?
All agreed it is so comfortable here. In Kakuma we didn’t have so much stuff. We had to walk to get water.
Q. Have you played hockey yet?
I love hockey but I find it hard to control the stick, said Abdulahi. Basketball was the most popular sport with all three boys’ because we can play it at the park with our friends. Abdihakin spoke most enthusiastically about sports. He is involved with track and field and a Checkers Club. He has travelled on tournaments. Snow is especially fun for Abdihamid as he likes to go sledding. All three liked snow ball fights. We have many friends who live in this neighbourhood. Drawing is a passion for Abdulahi.
Authentic Canadian Poutine
Q. What is your favorite Canadian food? Poutine was the loud answer. Abdihamid immediately added pancakes with syrup, and burgers. “It is all nice food.”
Q. Are you looking forward to Christmas and the holidays? The family is Muslim and celebrates Eid, so Christmas is not too familiar to them. However, Amina said that the boys are open to presents just the same.
I asked Amina, What do you find most difficult living in Canada? To which she warmly replied, “I don’t find anything difficult because of you people. All you people on the Refugee Committee are so wonderful. You reached out in help each time I or the children needed help. You are our friends in this new country.”
Amina is referring to the Sisters of St. Joseph Refugee Committee that has been supporting refugees seeking asylum in Canada for many years.
Assisting refugees is a labour of love and demanding, but the joy and determination that each of our families has shown makes the work so fulfilling. It also makes us very aware of how fortunate we are to live in Canada – COVID or not.
-Sister Ann Marshall, csj