My Syrian refugee friends saved sweets for my kids. Their kindness is heartwarming.
To find out what refugees from Syria have to do with getting my Dutch kids a bag full of sweets, continue reading.
I’m sharing a personal story with you. In October 2015 my family and I invited 2 Syrian refugees to have diner at our home. It was a wonderful evening where we got to know the Syrian brothers Rami and Ammar from Aleppo.
Ammar used to be a successful businessman who owned the biggest sports store of Aleppo and a restaurant. His brother Rami used to work as a cook before they fled Syria. Now, they have nothing but of course they are happy to just be safe.
Two months after our first encounter in Utrecht, they moved to another refugee center near The Hague. Just before Xmas I visited them and took them out for lunch in The Hague.
They have nothing, but give so much
After spending a nice afternoon in the Hague, they insisted to show me the small bungalow where they live together with 3 other Syrian. I met the other men and drank tea with them.
When I left, Ammar walked me to my car and he was carrying a heavy plastic bag. When we said goodbye, he gave me the bag full of small packages of marmelade and sprinkles. They saved this from the breakfast they get every day, so they could give a present to my kids. The kindness and generosity of my Syrian friends really choked me up. They are an example to us all!
In January they expect to know if they get a visa, and when they do my family and I will do everything we can to help them integrate in our society. Anyone reading this who also wants to help out in any way (finding them a job is priority #1), please write me at michiel@brightvibes.com
[UPDATE October 2016]
Ten months later, October 2016, the brothers are doing relatively well given the circumstances. After a thorough screening process, they both got a permit to live in the Netherlands for five year (no, not everyone is just handed a permit to stay). They moved a couple of more times but have now ‘settled’. That is to say; they are both desperate to be reunited with their families. The youngest brother has never seen his daughter, who was borne just after he fled the country. His – at that time highly pregnant – wife, could not possibly have made the dangerous journey. And the oldest is awaiting the green light from the Dutch immigration office, to grant permission to his family living in Saudi Arabia.
Now they both have permit and a home, they can finally start learning the language. They both do their utmost to speak and write Dutch, do voluntary work, improve their homes etc. I meet with them every once in a while, we’re in contact via WhatsApp, and try to help them where I can. It’s very limited what I can do, but if we all do this we can make a big difference.
I am not religious, but still… I pray they will soon be reunited with their loved ones.