Syrian refugees in Surrey eager to learn English and find work

A makeshift English class in a tiny Surrey apartment isn’t perfect. But three Syrian refugees inside want jobs, not hand outs.

“They’re all eager to work. They really want to start working,” says Imad Sawaf, who works with International Trade Services Construction.

“They thank the government already for bringing them here and giving them an opportunity, but they want a chance to join the workforce.”

The main struggle for the thousands of Syrian refugees coming to Canada is learning a new language. But in Surrey, the wait list for English classes is still another six months, so Sawaf is trying to connect these skilled trades workers with local employers.

“They don’t want to see their kids wanting things and not able to get things, and they’re hopeful for the opportunity to work, and start providing for their kids,” says Amer Alhindawi through a translator.

Alhindawi owned a carpentry store in Syria, and has five children and a wife he needs to support. For their first year in canada, families receive $1300 to $1400 a month in funding from the refugee settlement program. With rent averaging $1,000, there’s not much left for food, clothing and other expenses.

While they’re grateful for additional child care benefits, getting by is still a struggle, and the three families Sawaf are dealing with owe the federal government almost $21,000 for their flights to Canada.

“I literally have to sit down and write down, piece by piece and dollar by dollar being spent, or else I can’t make it,” says Khaled Alarid, another one of the refugees.

The government is working on some relief for refugees who arrived before December. Randeep Sarai, the new Liberal MP for Surrey Centre, says several companies have already contacted him regarding jobs.