Thanya's Family in Canada

Meet My Family

My name is Thanya Al Sadoon. My sons, Luke and Drew have lived in Duncan for 23 years. Both my sons were born here.

As a refugee myself, I have been involved for many years with the immigrant community in the Cowichan Valley. Our family has acted as a host family for integrating new refugees into Canadian culture.

Both Luke and Drew have had international experiences which have broadened their understanding of global issues. At present Luke is travelling in Thailand and Drew has plans to attend university abroad.

Thanya's Family in Iraq

Iraqi Family Birthdays

Saad (father)-- September 12, 1965
Ilham (mother)-- April 23, 1975

Saif (son)-- October 20, 1995
Shahad (elder daughter)-- July 20, 1993
Tabarek or "Tutu" (younger daughter)-- August 16, 2004

A Little Family History

In 2001, Thanya posted a message on an Iraqi national website, chronicling the history of her Iraqi family, requesting anyone who knew the family to contact her. As a result of this query, she received a 3:00 am phone call from Bahgdad, from a weeping man who said, "My sister!" The phone call was from her younger half--brother, Saad - her first contact in 42 years with her long lost family.

Since then, Thanya has learned to know and love Saad, his wife, Ilham and their three children. They meet weekly via Skype. Saad goes to an internet cafe in Damascus to make contact. Sometimes he brings his family to "visit," and Saad has met a number of Thanya's friends the same way.

Living as a refugee in Damascus

Syria currently hosts somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 million Iraqi refugees—the number is hard to estimate in part because an additional 1-2 thousand Iraqis flee to Syria every day.

Saad and his family are fortunate in that they do not live in a refugee camp, where conditions verge on the intolerable. Because of support from their Canadian family, they are able to live in a one room apartment in a refugee ghetto.

Iraqi immigrants are not permitted to work in Syria. Minimal food and medical help are supplied by the International Red Cross. He has obtained UN Refugee Status which means he cannot be sent back to Iraq and can apply to immigrate elsewhere.

How do they spend their days? They access English lessons at the Red Cross, or Red Crescent as it is called there. The children go on monthly field trips with a local aid organization. They can go to the Mosque.

They realize they will be in Damascus awaiting immigration for some time. Saad and his wife have entered Tutu in kindergarden. Shahad is attending Beauty School and Saif goes to English lessons three times a week.

They walk everywhere. They meet with other refugee families to share information on how to best access services. They wait.