每年一度，滑铁卢地区华人社区都汇聚一团，欢聚农历新年。在上周日，Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre(简称COCCC)所举办活动可能是标志社区活动的开始，也就是庆祝猴年的到来。当天活动在Stanley Park社区中心礼堂举行，包括有文艺演出和文化展示。
活动之初，COCCC财务负责人Frances Tse宣布当天的一项特别活动，那就就是COCCC为叙利亚新移民募捐活动的开始。从自己当年从香港移民，登陆滑铁卢的情况，Frances提醒现场观众对COCCC过去三十年所倡导的价值观，增加大家融入本地社区的归属感。
Frances说，“这是我们回馈社区的一个最好的机会。在未来几个月，乃至几年，超过1,000叙利亚新移民需要支持。我们大部分人本身就是移民，非常清楚新移民将要面临的挑战。我们有能力，也应该为他们做一些事情。该次募捐活动一直延续到2月22日，也就是农历新年之后的两周时间。通过本次募捐筹集的款项，COCCC将如数转交给The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation。更多详情如下，图片取自网络。
SYRIAN NEWCOMERS FOCUS OF CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR FUNDRAISER
Every year, the Chinese community comes together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Sunday marked the start of the community celebration, kicking off the year of the Monkey. In the auditorium of the Stanley Park Community Centre, the Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre (COCCC) played host to performers and cultural demonstrations, all free to the public. The event has been hosted locally for over 30 years, and in the past has served as a kick-off to a gala dinner to raise funds for the work of the COCCC. This year, they took a unique approach.
Frances Tse, Treasurer of the COCCC stepped forward early on in the festivities to make a special announcement: the event will mark the beginning of a fundraising campaign for the COCCC in support of Syrian Newcomers. She recalled her own past experiences of when she immigrated to Waterloo Region from Hong Kong, and reminded attendees about the values that brought the COCCC into existence over three decades ago – increasing a sense of belonging for the Chinese community.
“This is an opportunity for us to give back to the community in a bigger way,” shares Tse. “Over 1000 Syrian Newcomers will need resources and support over the coming months and years. Many of us are immigrants ourselves. We understand what challenges they are facing. We can and should do something to help.”
The campaign will run until February 22nd, two weeks after the start of the official Chinese Lunar New Year on February 8th. All donations collected by the COCCC during the campaign will be directed to The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (The KWCF), who is hosting the Immigration Partnership Fund for Syrian Newcomers on behalf of the Immigration Partnership.
The Immigration Partnership has been taking a strategic approach to supporting Syrian newcomers to Waterloo Region. The KWCF is just one of the partners. “The KWCF is honoured to be asked to help facilitate this work on behalf of the Immigration Partnership,” shares Rosemary Smith, CEO of The KWCF. “They are truly doing great work on behalf of this community that has inspired groups like the COCCC to think beyond themselves, come together and support our community’s newest members.”
Campaign donations will be eligible for the matching program announced by The KWCF late last year. The Foundation, with the support of their Fundholders and donors, has stepped up with approximately $400,000 to match donations from the community.
For more information on how to donate to the COCCC New Year Newcomer fundraising campaign, visit: www.coccc.net or e-mail: frances.tse@coccc.net.
