Less than a year ago they were in a refugee camp in Turkey, having fled their war-torn home in Syria. On Sept. 30, the Squamish newcomers will host “Safra al Shamie,” a Syrian pop-up dinner fundraiser to help bring another family here.
Cherkez and Muhammed Kizawi and their six children arrived in Squamish in October. They are one of three Syrian families who were sponsored to come to town.
Muhammed currently works at Saha Eatery.
Their children, four girls and two boys, range in age from one to 13 years old.
Son Ahmet, 4, likes Thomas the Tank Engine and the TV show Paw Patrol. Daughter Aya, 7, is outgoing and speaks English almost as well as if she were born in Canada.
All of the children enjoyed the snow in the winter, their mom said.
“The children are very happy here,” Muhammed added, through an interpreter. “Everything is new for them.”
The kids like to go to the swimming pool and ride bikes, activities they couldn’t do in Syria, he said.
Their new life in Squamish has been full of surprises and some challenges.
“We found everything different from our country,” Muhammed said. “People are very nice and friendly here. They treat us very good.”
The language barrier, however, has been difficult.
“About 50 per cent of the time we are able to do things by ourselves and there are people who help us all the time.”
They miss their family members, and it is for Cherkez’s sister and her family that they are holding the fundraiser, which will be an authentic Syrian dining experience prepared by the couple.
They want to sponsor the sister, her husband and the couple’s seven children, who are currently stuck with only the bare necessities in a refugee camp in Turkey.
“Once they come to Canada our lives will be more enjoyable and we will be happier,” Muhammed said.
The phrase “Safra al Shamie,” the name of the fundraiser, translates to “a feast with lots of food set up beautifully,” and Shamie is another name for Damascus, the capital of Syria, explained Maggie Georgy-Embree, a Squamish friend of the family who is helping them arrange the fundraiser. She said it was important to the couple the name be included in the event.
The dinner will be buffet style and will include a variety of Syrian cuisine. It is an alcohol-free event.
The Squamish couple has already received generous support for the fundraiser from many in the community, including from George Chang the owner of a Table!, where the fundraiser will be held; and from Sean Daly at Nesters Market who is donating most of the ingredients for the dinner.
Chang told The Chief it was the right thing to do at the right time. He has donated the space and use of A Table!’s kitchen for the event.
“My wife and I do a lot of different community events,” he said. “For this, we always knew we wanted to help.”
The Kizawis are in the process of starting their own business, Kizawi Kitchen. They hope to cater, put on more pop-up dinners and perhaps offer cooking classes.
“We don’t think that we can achieve big goals in life, but we are doing what we are doing right now, just for our children. They are going to school and we are helping them in order to help our children to pursue their ambitions and their goals,” Mohammed said.
Safra al Shamie is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at A Table!, which is located at 106- 39149 Discovery Way. Go to “Kizawi Kitchen” on Facebook for more information and a link to tickets.
