LIRSA
(London Interfaith Refugee Sponsorship Alliance)
As the founding member of what is now known as LIRSA, Siloam's involvement with helping refugees dates back to the early 1990's when Siloam entered into a Joint Assistance Sponsorship with the Federal Government in order to help a family from Iraq. Then, in 1995, the chair of Siloam's Outreach Committee received a letter from the government asking Siloam to become involved in a 3 + 9 (the government would financially support a family for 3 months if another group would take that responsibility for the remaining 9 months) sponsor-ship of a family from Bosnia. Calls were made to every church in London, eight responded with offers of financial help and the London Ecumenical Refugee Sponsorship Committee (LERSC) was formed.
As the organization grew and churches opted in and out over the years, LERSC formally became LIRSA in 2005. LERSC and LIRSA have been involved in 18 Joint Assistance Sponsorships with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 7 private sponsorships and 3 family-linked sponsorships. The families helped to date have come to Canada from Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Sudan, Colombia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Burma (Karens) and Palestine.
LIRSA is a group of churches (at present the member churches are: Colborne St. United, St. Georges Anglican, Christ Church (Anglican), Riverside United, St. James Westminster, Siloam United, Church of St. Jude, St. Alban the Martyr) who sponsor and support individuals and families who have been identified as refugees according to the United Nations Geneva Convention. The work of LIRSA is humanitarian, non-sectarian and apolitical. LIRSA works in cooperation with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Cross Cultural Learner Centre and sponsorship agreement holders (United Church of Canada, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church). LIRSA also responds to private requests for sponsorships of individuals needing sanctuary. Once LIRSA has agreed to help, it is LIRSA's responsibility to provide social and emotional support, advocacy and community liaison in areas such as health, education and employment. In the case of a private sponsorship, LIRSA is also responsible for the financial support of the refugee(s) for one year. The alliance welcomes support from all groups and individuals who share the goal of helping relieve some of the suffering of people forced to flee their countries and assisting them to make a successful transition to a stable, productive life in Canada.
At present (February, 2010), LIRSA is financially supporting a Karen family comprised of a mother and her three young children. The family arrived in London last June. St. James Westminster is acting as the family's main helpers in day-to-day living. A sub-committee of LIRSA was formed last year and the members of that committee have been helping Karen families with dental appointments throughout the city. We were able to do this with the help of a grant from the Westminster College Foundation.
Siloam supports LIRSA financially and also offers non-financial support through the time and energy of volunteers who help refugee families cope with day-to-day living.
LIRSA is dependent on human resources in order to sponsor and support refugees. The group encourages, welcomes and values the contribution made by individuals in whatever way they feel comfortable.
Every second, refugees somewhere in the world are fleeing from their homes and cities seeking safety. Their plight is hard for many of us to imagine. They leave because of fear or famine, but always with hope.