Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Upcoming Scratch Dinner event to raise money for Syrian refugees

For the time being, Anahita Osman has found a home in Germany.

The Syrian refugee was living in Turkey after fleeing civil war in Syria. She was among those who fled the country in a rubber raft recently in an attempt to get to Greece with the ultimate goal of reaching Germany after the country opened its borders to refugees.

Osman was the focus of a local campaign to bring her to Canada, spearheaded by Mulmur resident Debbie Ebanks Schlums who met Osman last year while visiting Turkey as part of a social entrepreneurship project aimed at helping Syrian refugees living in the country. 

A group of locals working with Ebanks Schlums began raising funds in an attempt to sponsor Osman’s emigration to Canada. They were halfway to their goal of $12,000.

Ebanks Schlums said it had been a while since she had heard from Osman so she got in touch and learned that she was part of the exodus to Germany, along with members of her family.

“They nearly drowned during the crossing because the boat was loaded far beyond capacity. What should have taken an hour, took five-and-a-half hours after the motor died. The Greek Coast Guard saved them, or else they would have all drowned. Thankfully they are all now safe. After a harrowing sea crossing and torturous journey through Hungary, they are now in Germany,” said Ebanks Schlums in an update to those involved in fundraising efforts.

Everyone in the Kurdish community in Turkey had left or was leaving, she said. Osman had no choice but to go. She would have been left behind without knowing if she would ever make it to Canada.

Ebanks Schlums said she had transferred the money from the sale of Osman’s work at an art exhibit that took place in Creemore this summer but she doesn’t know for sure if it helped Osman’s family pay for the crossing to Greece.

Osman is in a secure place and is being well taken care of by the German government. It is unknown if she will be able to come to Canada in the future but Ebanks Schlums hopes to bring her here one day, even for a visit.

The group is now trying to decide how to use the funds that have been raised to date. Ebanks Schlums said it will be held for the time being, until more is known about Osman’s prospects. She said there is a possibility that some of the money could be sent to her in Germany and the rest could be used to sponsor another Syrian family.

In the meantime, fundraising efforts continue and a dinner is planned as part of Clearview’s Small Halls Festival. The Scratch Dinner with Chef Michael Stadtlander, and sponsored by the Creemore 100 Mile Store, will take place at Dunedin Hall on Sunday, Oct. 4. It is a small plates tasting event celebrating the best in local food and beverage from Azzura, Oyster Boy, Hiro Sushi, Chez Michel, Ravine and Stadtlander’s Eigensinn Farm. Food is served from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be guest speakers including Kim Thuy, author of Canada Reads 2015 winner Ru, who will talk about her experience as a Vietnamese refugee. Tickets cost $99 and are available online at www.smallhallsfestival.ca.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fundraising effort is welcome to donate online at the Out of a War Zone and Into the Hills website, at outofawarzone.weebly.com.

Ebanks Schlums said anyone who would like a refund for a donation made in the name of Anahita Osman is welcome to contact her through the same website.

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