By Chad Klassen

Syrian family still adjusting three years after arriving in Kamloops

Dec 20, 2018 | 5:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — Three years after the first Syrian refugees landed in Kamloops, they are still finding their way in a new country.

The Almohammeds were the first to be welcomed by the community, leaving their war-torn country of Syrian. They still feel blessed to be living in a such a peaceful place.

“They enjoy to have been here in Canada for the last three years,” said Reem Almohammed through translator Hana Almohammed, who’s a family friend. “Canadian people are friendly and humble. I’ve got a lot of help from them.”

Since first arriving in Kamloops on New Year’s Eve of 2015, the family says agencies like Kamloops Immigrant Services have helped Reem and Khaled to improve their English. However, while their English is better, it is still posing issues for the couple who haven’t been able to find permanent work.

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“He applied a lot, but because of his language, people said he needed to improve his English,” said Hana about Khaled.

Between child care support for their five kids and refugee payments from the Canadian government, the family brings in about $3,000 every month, just enough to get by. 

Khaled has not been able to work, not only with the language barrier but also a bad knee that he suffered as a construction worker in Syria. He had surgery recently to repair it. 

“He’s been bored because he couldn’t work during those three years, but he wishes he can get a job soon,” noted Hana about Khaled. 

In the meantime, Reem has started to work for Hana at her new Middle Eastern dessert shop that opened just last week in downtown Kamloops. 

“In the Syrian culture, the woman always stays at home and looks after the kids and cook, but because of her husband now, he can’t work,” said Hana. “She would love to work with me at my store to help her husband and her family.”

It means Khaled will be the one to stay home and look after the three kids not in school, including the twin girls Dina and Maya who are now almost two years old. 

“They say they are happy. Thanks God.”