A family from British Columbia on a Canadian tour made a pit stop in Calgary on a journey to raise awareness around the refugee crisis.
The foursome’s unique mode of transportation helped create the initial attention to get strangers to take notice: they are making the trek in a self-contained home on wheels known as a Unimog.
It’s a conversation-starter to engage others about the reasons for their trip and nine-year-old Yuri Klobucar couldn’t wait to hit the open road.
“When I was learning about the road trip I thought it was cool,” Yuri said. “When I learned about spreading the news about refugees I thought, ‘that’s even better.’”
The family is hoping to raise funds for Canada Caring — an organization with a project building baby boxes for new moms living in refugee camps.
Mom Melie DeChamplain has travelled to refugee camps and witnessed the hardship first-hand. She wanted to make it a family project to support expectant mothers in need.
“They have babies and go back to a tent…basic conditions, they don’t have much, so we are building boxes for baby that will provide support and basic needs to start a new life,” DeChamplain. “In the boxes you find mosquito nets, diapers, baby pajamas, hygiene needs but it also becomes a bed for the baby.”
Her husband, Mike Klobucar, is used to worldly adventures and couldn’t wait.
“It doesn’t take much to convince me to go travel anywhere,” he said. “If we go to Greece, south Sudan, wherever in the world I am game.”
Sophia Klobucar, 12, recognizes the value of their journey.
“I feel privileged to live where I live. I have my family and I feel I’m a very lucky girl.”
The family of four are headed to Quebec and plan on finishing the trip in early August.