The Welcome Corps is a new program recently established by President Biden that empowers everyday Americans, like us, to come together to privately sponsor refugees. The Al-Smadi family of 5 (Mother, Father, 3 kids) are a UNHCR recognized refugee family from Syria, currently living in Jordan. We have personally worked with this family since 2017.
It all begins with compassion. The Family’s middle son, Jawad, is known to many supporters as we’ve fund-raised to help pay for his medical care. He suffers from cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen during birth. The disability affects both mental and motor skills. He only started sitting independently about a year ago. Our tiny Non-profit, Americans for Refugees in Crisis (ARC), has been supporting the boy for almost three years by financing special therapies.
These take place three times a week. He can now sit up, pull himself up alone, stand with help, speak some words, and is making very good progress. But additional therapy to help further progress is non-existent in the area in which they live. Furthermore, there is absolutely no possibility that would be able to attend school. He is a bright and loving child and deserves a better future
In January 2013, the parents, Ghater and his wife Raghda, fled to Jordan due to the war in Syria. First they lived in Zaatari camp. After a few months they found a small house to rent and moved outside the camp.. Now they live in Irbid, Al-Naima.
At university, Ghater studied Archeology, but in Jordan he learned to weld to earn a living. ARC, helped with micro-enterprise financing to purchase welding equipment, because at the time, Syrians were not allowed to work as employees, only in self-employment endeavors. Ghater hopes to get a job in the USA using his welding and construction skills. Raghda has a cosmetology degree in Henna tattoo and would also be interested in working in childcare in the US to help support their family.
Become a co-sponsor of this lovely family
Jouri is 7 years old. She’s a big help with Jawid and the baby, but would thrive with more activities, and stimulation for a child her age. She loves school.
Massa is 1.5 years old and is a sweet cherubic baby.
Jawad during his therapy. He is such a happy boy! He has made great strides with this simple therapy, but now needs more sophisticated intervention to help him reach his full potential.
There are so many different ways to Help!
✴︎Sponsoring could entail money, time or skills
* Fundraise, help find housing, Thrift, Help Navigate School
✴︎Help enroll in Health Care, Find a job, Be a Friend
There are so many different ways to Help! ✴︎Sponsoring could entail money, time or skills * Fundraise, help find housing, Thrift, Help Navigate School ✴︎Help enroll in Health Care, Find a job, Be a Friend
First order of business, a minimum of 3 Sponsors are required. Background Checks, and a Welcome Plan are also required. Most people don’t realize the USA only give refugees 3 months of assistance. It’s a sink or swim approach that is very different than in Europe. Similarly, the Welcome Corp requires a 90 day commitment. Our goal, However, is to ensure this family has an ongoing community of support.
The list of things one can do is long. Fundraise, job and housing search, getting social security cards, enrolling in school, medical and other care. It includes helping children and families navigation school and social activities. If you love to thrift, maybe you want to take the lead in finding household goods. The family will have transportation needs, and help finding grocery stores, a mosque, english lessons. And will need to be met at the airport. The list is long.
Raghda has a cosmetology license in Henna tattoo and loves the work. If she can’t find a job in that field, she is interested in expanding into childcare; somewhere she could bring the baby to work.
Not ready to jump in as a Sponsor but want to make a donation? You can donate to Americans for Refugees in Crisis (Arc).
Ghater has worked hard to keep his family out of the Zaatari Camp. Refugees are not allowed many jobs in Jordan, and Ghater has worked tirelessly to provide for his family, and give a real roof over their heads, even though the housing is not great. It is particularly important for Jawad not to live in a tent in a camp. I have no doubt Ghater will succeed in the American dream of providing for his family, and giving them a better life in the USA.
