Syrian refugee Ammar Alfakosh owes his life in Canada to a private refugee sponsorship program which helped him get settled in Nanaimo. (Ammar Alfakosh)

By Jordan Davidson

without borders

‘If you want to change someone’s life, this is how:’ fundraising concert focuses on LGBTQ refugees

May 21, 2022 | 5:22 AM

NANAIMO — A concert being held this weekend will be in support of vulnerable refugees.

The “Nanaimo Without Borders Concert” is taking place at the Pacific Garden Cohousing at 347 Seventh St., on Saturday, May 21 starting at 7:00 p.m., and is a fundraiser for refugees who identify as LGBTQ.

Reaching Out Assisting Refugees (ROAR) will benefit from all money raised at the concert through ticket sales and donations. They help find local sponsors for LGBTQ refugees.

“There’s 71 countries and jurisdictions around the world that actually criminalize private consensual same-sex sexual activity,” Blaine Wilkins, ROAR board chair, told NanaimoNewsNOW. “People are in peril in some of these countries, they really are in dire straits.”

Founded in 2016, ROAR has been able to settle three refugees in Nanaimo so far. Two of them were from the Middle East, while the other was African.

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They are currently working on bringing three more to the community, a couple and another individual, all from countries in Africa.

Concert organizer Dan Parker lives at the cohousing and has hosted fundraising concerts there before.

He told NanaimoNewsNOW with the emerging refugee crisis out of Ukraine they were inspired to help and wanted to focus on marginalized groups.

“At this moment I think a lot of people are looking at Ukraine and thinking about the refugee process in general, it’s on their minds and in their hearts, so I think it’s a good opportunity for folks to donate to this cause.”

One of the performers knows first-hand the trials and tribulations of being a refugee.

Ammar Alfakosh, a former refugee from Syria, moved to Nanaimo in the fall of 2020 after spending three years at a refugee camp in Turkey.

His move to the region was thanks to the help of private sponsors at the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo.

He said he felt Canadians lived a “perfect life” they sometimes take for granted, especially compared to the problems other countries face such as being displaced by war or political turmoil.

“They do hear about it in the news but they don’t socialize with or see a lot of refugees. Not a lot of them (refugees) speak fluent English so it’s hard to tell your story. In my case, my English was good, so people kept asking me about my journey and what I’ve been through and people were actually interested in learning from my life experiences.”

Alfakosh was working on a medical degree in oncology during his time in Syria, but is unable to continue in Canada due to accreditation issues.

Despite having no previous stage experience, he’ll be performing three songs from his home country in Arabic.

One is about the start of the Syrian revolution, while another will tell the story of Syrians who drowned in the ocean while trying to flee to Europe in search of a better life.

Alfakosh said he wouldn’t be here without the generous help of a private sponsor and hopes this event makes more people aware of those programs.

“This program has actually changed my life for the best. That’s how I got here…and I wanted to share this information with Canadians just to let them know that if you guys want to change someone’s life… this is how. You can always sponsor people, you can always sponsor a refugee.”

Sponsoring a single refugee can cost upwards of $30,000 for the 12 months ROAR dedicates to helping them resettle.

Entry to the concert is free of charge, but they are asking for a suggested donation of at least $10.

This is an all-ages event and will be drug and alcohol-free, and people are encouraged to wear masks.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow