TY - JOUR KW - Refugees KW - Churches Mennonite KW - Museums AU - Jolene Tiessen AB -

Mary Enns was [Faduma Mahmoud]'s high school teacher and remembers Faduma as an angry, disengaged youth. When Faduma approached Mary, upset that nothing was planned for Black History month, they were able to turn Faduma's frustration into positive energy with the formation of a Black History Club. Faduma soon became deeply engaged in school and community organizations and by Grade 12 had won numerous awards and was valedictorian. Hibah Shawafee and Naseer Al Rawi are a Muslim refugee couple who came with their two daughters from Iraq two years ago. They spoke of the difficulties of being Muslim in this country. Hibah spoke shyly, being tentative of her English, and shared how people have asked her, "Why did you come to Canada? Why don't you go back to your country? Why don't you dress like me?" Her response shows courage and patience: "If my country have safety as Canada and if it was a good place to live, would we visit Canada or live in Canada? Of course we come visit. But my country no good safety. I love Canada. My country now is Canada. I have freedom. You have freedom."

BT - Canadian Mennonite (Waterloo) DP - ocul-wtl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com IS - 13 LA - eng PY - 2015 SE - 20 SN - 1480-042X T1 - Ottawa Mennonite Church hears stories from refugees T2 - Canadian Mennonite (Waterloo) VL - 19 ER -