Open Doors Niverville (ODN) is a collective of local volunteers actively working toward bringing a refugee family to our community. Inspired by Syria’s refugee crisis, the idea took hold in early 2016 when a number of church leaders reached out to the community to probe for interest. The initial meeting at the Niverville Christian Fellowship was followed by two more, which hosted presenters from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Build A Village in Altona.

Since then, a committee of approximately 20 volunteers has formed to mobilize the project. A Niverville home has already been secured for a refugee family and the group is looking into organizations to provide tax receipts for donations. 

At a meeting on June 22, ODN’s spokesperson, Josie Fast, indicated that MCC has already contacted her regarding 60 families coming to Canada in the next few weeks. These families are coming from a variety of countries, all in need of sponsorship and aid.

Fast recommended that ODN consider Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR), a Government-of-Canada-initiated program which matches refugees with private sponsors. In this program, the government provides up to six months of income support while sponsors provide another six months of financial support and a minimum of a year of social and emotional support to the family.

ODN members have concluded that the family the community sponsors does not need to be of Syrian background. A refugee is a refugee, a need is a need. At this stage, the committee feels that November 1 would be a feasible deadline to prepare for the new family.

Further details will become available as matters develop. Check out the Open Doors Niverville Facebook page to stay up to date with the progress.