DIGNITY FOR ALL PROGRAM
OUR PARTNERS Gold Partner ($3,000+)
Silver Partner ($2,000 - $2,999)
Bronze Partner ($1,000 - $1,999)
The Kaushal Family Partner ($150 - $999)
Dignity For All Program: A Quick Glance (A Joint Newsletter Between Crescent School and Havergal College) Message from the Chair Crescent School and Havergal College have continued to focus our efforts on the two-pronged response: 1. Financial support: our goal is to raise $30,000+ by the end of the school year (or sooner) to help private sponsorship groups who are sponsoring refugee families. Our funds will be allocated to sponsorship groups (identified by Lifeline Syria) who have the will to sponsor Syrian families but are having difficulty raising the required funds to initiate the application process. 2. Social & recreational support: we also intend to support recently arrived families and children through sport and play. Once families arrive, it is often difficult to get together as they are spread across the city; by providing a place to meet will allow for a development of a supporting community. All programming is free, and we will welcome families and children to a central meeting place with provided transportation to play sports and participate in other activities. Our fund has now passed $30,000, hence achieving our original target of $20,000+. With that said, we have revised our fundraising goal to $50,000+ for the end of the school year. We would like to specially thank CIBC, a silver partner, and Home Trust, a gold partner.
On December 18, 2016, a team of Havergal and Crescent students journeyed to Culture Link’s distribution centre to help sort clothing. “Upon arrival, we were confronted with a mass of clothing, appliances, toys, cookware and other personal belongings. It certainly seemed like a thrift store, but what really struck me was that instead of lifting random nicknacks, I was moving about with what could potentially mean the difference between a warm walk to school or sickness, or a complete family dinner or not. It really sinks into your mind when you’re lifting it about for 3 hours.” – Christian Métivier The Dignity For All program continues to strive to help the refugee cause, whether it is through our financial fund or social/recreational support. We would like to thank the Crescent and Havergal community for their continued support of the program. - Ronald Chow, Student Chair
A Call For Action CultureLink thanks their community for the generous donations – their donation centre filled up quickly! They were able to start distribution on January 18 to recently arrived refugees. They are still looking for: winter coats for teens (12-18 years old), winter boots of all sizes, unopened toiletries, toothbrushes, combs, soap, shampoo and hand lotion, diapers, and individually wrapped feminine hygiene products. If you are willing and able to contribute, contact Mr. Mehernosh Pestonji (mpestonji@crescentschool.org) or Amina Yassin-Omar (ayassin@culturelink.ca, or 416-588-6288 ext 230). - Tyler Mark, Student Co-Chair February 5, 2016
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Dignity For All Program: A Quick Glance (A Joint Newsletter Between Crescent School and Havergal College) Our Fundraising Progress We have successfully reached our original goal of $20,000 thanks to our partners! CIBC and Home Trust have donated $2,000 and $20,000 respectively, joining our program as silver and gold partners. Additionally, Crescent’s internal fundraising efforts last month raised an excess of $2,202.82 bringing our overall funds raised to over $32,755.57. Once again, we would like to thank all of our partners. Despite our success at meeting our goal, there is still much work to be done and we hope that our momentum will continue – we hope to have fundraised $50,000 by the end of the year! If you and/or your corporation are interested in supporting the Dignity For All program through a financial contribution, please do not hesitate to contact any member of our fundraising team (firstnamelastname@crescentschool.org). - Joseph Sumabat, Chief Financial Officer
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This past month, there was a house fundraising competition at Havergal College, in order to raise money for the Syrian refugee crisis. As a school, we raised a total of $1,882.75 which included both donations from individual students and corporations. In addition, the top three students in the Upper School who donated the most funds were Karen Au, Annika Margie, and Hannah Tahami. We would like to thank Mr. Peter Druxerman and Druxy’s for contributing to our fundraising initiative, through the provision of individual incentives (gift cards). Most importantly, we have worked together to help make a difference in the lives of innocent victims! - Selina Chow, Editor-In-Chief
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Dignity For All Program 30%
Ronald Chow, Student Chair Mr. Mehernosh Pestonji, (Crescent School) Faculty Chair Mr. Gordon Grisé, (Havergal College) Faculty Chair Tyler Mark, Student Co-Chair
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Editorial Board of “Dignity For All Program: A Quick Glance” William Gill, Editor-In-Chief Spencer Dale, Associate Editor
Selina Chow, Editor-In-Chief Angelina Pan, Associate Editor
Our Fundraising Team Joseph Sumabat, Chief Financial Officer Jack Williamson, Financial Planner Harrison Hui, Financial Planner Ryan Boyd, Financial Planner February 5, 2016
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Dignity For All Program: A Quick Glance (A Joint Newsletter Between Crescent School and Havergal College) Embracing the Cold
With the cold having finally hit Canada, the newly admitted Syrians find themselves enjoying their very first Canadian winter. Young Syrian children have had the opportunity to visit the clothing drive in a North York hotel, which houses over 400 government sponsored refugees. The goal with the drive is to outfit the new Canadian residents with adequate clothing to prepare themselves for the harsh weather. And for the newer children, the clothing donated to this drive has been pivotal in getting them equipped for school. With the snow looking like it’s here to stay now, the Winter Celebration at Rideau Hall this past Saturday, January 16, graciously invited the Syrian refugees to come along and participate. Activities such as skating, sledding, curling and ice hockey promoted the winter season. The event was a huge success, and it allowed people of all backgrounds to connect and have some fun during the winter. - Tyler Young, Crescent School
The Bigger Picture
The fact that Canada is accepting thousands upon thousands of Syrian Refugees is something that we should all be able to take pride in on a national level. It is without a doubt that the public cares about this crisis, and the plight of the refugee in general. However, the increase in interest that has occurred in the last few months can be attributed to increased attention in the news cycle. The trouble with the news cycle is that it is cyclical, meaning that it is not perpetual and thus this peaked interest is temporary. This is what is shown with the discretion that Syrian refugees are being shown now: Public interest in this crisis is high, but not permanent. It is almost as if ever since that terrible image of Alan Kurdi, the deceased child on the beach, our vision has not been broadened, but rather narrowed; we are looking in the right direction (the struggle of refugees), but we are not seeing the entire picture. -Christian MĂŠtivier, Crescent School February 5, 2016
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Dignity For All Program: A Quick Glance (A Joint Newsletter Between Crescent School and Havergal College) Trumping Out the Refugees
It is now clear to everyone that nobody knows how to deal with Donald Trump. Trump has made immigration the central focus of his election campaign, saying he does not want immigrants coming into America. His plan also consists of sending all of the Syrian refugees in the USA back to Syria. Recently, Trump spoke to an audience at Keen High School, saying, “I hear we want to take in 200,000 Syrians. And they could be –listen, they could be ISIS”. Trump also described the refugees as a 200,000-man army, and pledged that “if [he] won, they’re going back.”
The Good and the Bad
With regard to Justin Trudeau, he comments, “painting [Islamic State] and others with a broad brush that extends to all Muslims is not just ignorant, it is irresponsible. Those peddling fear make us weaker, not safer.”
Recently, there have been many headlines and stories showing Canada actively bringing Syrian refugee families into Canada, where they can finally escape danger and find a safe place to settle down. There have been some heart-warming stories, but also some heart-breaking stories that make Canadians shake their heads in disbelief. Recently, on January 8th, during a welcome event for refugees, a pepper spray attack took place. There were approximately 30 victims in the event, and the attack was suspected to be hate crime from an unknown man on a bicycle. When attacks like this occur, it makes me ashamed to call myself Canadian. However, other stories in the news, like the stories of families arriving with wide grins on their face make Canadians proud to be who we are. In mid-December 2015, Maclean’s wrote an article documenting a family with a 16-month old little girl arriving in Canada and being greeted by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Trudeau eloquently stated, “Welcome home.” This article was a powerful reminder of why Canada attempted to bring in 25,000 refugees. These refugees were in desperate need of help, and to see the smiles on their faces upon landing in Canada along with a look of relief is refreshing. Hopefully in the future, Canadian citizens will continue to accept these refugees with open arms and welcome them as a part of our large family.
- Abby Tien, Havergal College
-Nathan Li, Crescent School
Unfortunately, Trump’s misconception of the refugees is one that many people living in North America share. In contrast, the reality is that the refugees from Syria are not terrorists.
February 5, 2016
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