A Summerland-based charity is bringing a refugee family from Malawi to Summerland.
For the past three and a half years, Brenda Lowe of the One Person Project and others have worked to bring a family from the Dzaleka Refugee Camp to Summerland.
Asifwe Alfred, 26, his wife Yvonne, 20, and their young son Praise, three, are preparing to relocate to Summerland this summer.
Lowe first met Alfred in Tanzania in 2015. He was born in a refugee camp and did not have legal citizenship in any country.
Later, he relocated to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi where he met Yvonne. They soon had their son Praise.
In order to ensure Yvonne and Praise would be recognized in Alfred’s immigration file, the One Person Project financed their wedding.
Lowe is now working to provide financial support for Yvonne’s mother Amina and her six remaining children, Alfred’s extended family and the running group Alfred coaches.
Lowe describes the camp as a difficult living environment. There are around 63,000 people living in this refugee camp.
Donations are being coordinated by Angela Machuik at Summerland’s Replenish Refillery. The funding is helping to provide second-hand running shoes, transportation to races and medical care for the running team.
Lowe and her husband Peter Smyth recently visited the refugee camp in Malawi.
“Seeing the conditions reinforced how truly life-changing this relocation will be — not just for Alfred and his family, but for our community as well,” she said. “I’m excited for the people of Summerland to welcome them and be part of their journey.”
She added that while Summerland has seen expressions of hate and racism in recent years, she believes the majority in the community will be accepting of the Alfred family when they arrive.
Adjusting to life in Canada will be difficult since the camp does not have the same amenities that are commonplace here.
The One Person Project has had a history of providing help in eastern Africa.
In 2006, Lowe travelled to East Africa and when she returned, she and her friend Denise Whittaker established the One Person Project to plan and raise money for initiatives in the area.
The organization established a friendship agreement between Summerland and Kahama.
David Gregory was the mayor of Summerland at the time. The agreement was created and approved by Kahama’s district executive director.
Since that time, the One Person Project has shipped containers with medical, educational and household supplies to Africa.
Lowe has also organized and led 17 self-funded volunteer trips to Kahama to support organizations, launch businesses and distribute aid.
In 2012, Simon’s Children’s Home was established. This facility, staffed and supported by the One Person Project, houses 40 orphaned and vulnerable children.
Lowe also co-founded the Royal Academy, an English-language primary boarding school. The organization has invested $130,000 in its construction and supplies.
