P.E.I. refugee family working to build new life

A family of Syrian refugees is adjusting to its new life on P.E.I.

The Alkhalil family of five moved to Charlottetown two months ago and has been working to settlein.

Twins Rand and Rain Alkhalil are relaxed and say their life finally seemsnormal.

"Here all things are easy. We go to school, and we study, we be here, safe," said Rain.

The family was safe in Syria until five years ago. Parents Makarem and Awad had good jobs, a nice house and peace.But the civil war turned their lives upside down and Awad said life became very hard.

With bombs landing around them all the time, the family was in constant fear for their safety.

Here all things are easy. We go to school, and we study, we be here, safe.- RainAlkhalil

Awad says the decision was made to leave. The family left Syria a year ago and fled to Lebanon.

There, they lived in a cramped one room apartment and stayed under the radar, not working or sending the children to school.

Then, in September, they arrived in Charlottetown. Relatives that had immigrated to the Island years ago sponsored the family and moved them here with assistance from the Charlottetown Diocese.

Over the past two months, Awad says many people have helped them make the transition to their new life easier.

The family has been assisted by the friends in the Syrian community and the PEI Newcomer's Association with getting social insurance numbers and setting up a bank account.

Their English language training, which they attend each day at Holland College, is covered by the federal government.

But Awad and Makarem say they are still worried about their finances and future because when they fled Syria, they left almost everything behind.

"I'm less my job, I'm less my place, I'm less my money," said Awad.

The father says any savings he has are worth very little in Canada after the value of Syrian currency dropped 800 per cent since the start of the civil war.

The family is living on sponsorship money which will soon run out. Awad says they need to find a home and jobs.

"I cannot continue my life without a job. So I need job."

In Syria, Awad was an agricultural engineer and Makarem an economist. They are concerned their university degrees and work experience are no use here.

The PEI Newcomers Association is assisting with the job search but, Awad says even a minimum wage job is proving hard to land.

"When I go to find any job, the person asks me, 'English? How English?' I'm a newcomer. I'm from Syria. Syrians speak Arabic, not English," said Awad.

The daily language training is helping and Awad said his English is quickly improving.But Awad questions if he should continue or devote more time to searching for a job.

The father doesn't want to rely on social assistance or charity to get by.

Awad says he fears as more and more educated Syrian refugees land here, they too are going to struggle to find meaningful work. He thinks government should offer workshops and internships for refugees so they can prove their abilities and get hired.

Eventually, Awad says he may have to start looking in other provinces for work and move his family although he hopes it doesn't come to that.