Photographer captures Syrian family's new found joy in St. John's

As images of the horrorsSyrians are facing continue to pour in, a St. John's-based photographer istelling a different story.

Photographer ElbonitaKozhanihas documented the playfulness and challengesof the Khaliffamilya Syrian couple and their eight children astheyadjust to a new home in Canada's eastern-most province. The children range in age from one, to 14.

Joy, sadness, and struggle

"You typically seewhat is going on in Syria but one thing we don't see is the aftermath, after they have arrived. What life is like, their joys, their sadness, their struggles," said Kozhani.

"So I spent a lot of time with this family. I wasprobably with themthree orfour days a week."

Kozhani herself is a former refugee,who movedto St. John'sfrom Kosovo with her family in 1999.

The Khalifssurvived a difficult time in Syria but there area lot of smilesin Kozhani's photos.

"That's actually what I want people to get out of this:how happy they are and how much fun they have," said Kozhani.

'There is so much hope'

They've witnessed a brutal war in Syriabut Kozhanisaysthat's not the Khaliffamily'swhole story.

"I do believe there is a negative thing where we do believe that all the children have post-traumaticstressdisorder but it's not true... there is so much hope in these children," she said.

Kozhani is leaving Newfoundland in January, headed for Asia. She's planning to travel the world for a couple of years, photographing what she sees along the way.