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Syrian Sanctuary co-founders to speak in Orillia

Dynamic duo will talk about their efforts to help refugees at CFUW Orillia meeting Feb. 26
Adventures in Volunteering
Stephen Watt and Wasim Meslmani will talk about their work helping Syrian refugees at an upcoming CFUW Orillia meeting. Photo provided

NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
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Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Orillia members will hear the fascinating story of how Stephen Watt and Wasim Meslmani met and how they are helping refugees get settled in Canada through the Hand-to-Hand Facebook page.

They will be guest speakers at the CFUW meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the Orillia Museum of Art and History, 30 Peter St. S., Orillia, at 7 p.m.

Like many other Canadians, Stephen Watt was shaken by the images of Alan Kurdi, a 3-year-old Kurdish Syrian who drowned on a Mediterranean coast in September 2015. 

Watt took action by responding to a request from Community Matters Toronto, a neighbourhood organization, for volunteers to help with its Syria project. He created a Facebook page called Syrian Sanctuary.

Since then Watt has become a volunteer and humanitarian who has helped fundraise for and privately sponsor over 20 individuals and six families to come to Canada – with more to come. 

It was through the Syrian Sanctuary Facebook page that Wasim Meslmani found Watt.

Meslmani was a Syrian refugee and is now a Toronto-based newcomer who is devoted to helping other newcomers succeed.

Since October 2017, Wasim has run the Hand-to-Hand Facebook page to provide work, school, housing and psychosocial support for newcomers to Canada and their sponsors.

He founded the page – which gained 2,000 followers in its first year – while still a refugee in Amman, Jordan.  He has also helped hundreds of newcomers and sponsors find leads on a wide variety of workshops, events, educational and employment opportunities.

Women who would like to hear this story or who are interested in learning more about CFUW are invited to attend.

This diverse club was established in 1955 as a non-profit organization that is active in public affairs, working to raise the social, economic and legal status of women as well as to improve education, the environment, and human rights.

CFUW raises funds through its annual Homes Tour to provide post-secondary scholarships to female graduates of Orillia high schools, including the Learning Centre.

Membership is offered to all women, regardless of educational background, who believe in our goals and value lifelong learning. For more information visit the website.

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