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This Syrian Refugee Boy’s Dream To Play Hockey Is Fulfilled By Neighbors And It’s The Most Canadian Thing Ever
Back in 2015, the Canadian government issued a plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016 due to the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Syria.
For the refugees that come to a new country, the adaptation process can be really difficult. Firstly, in comparison to other immigrants, many refugees struggle with the language barrier. Secondly, they often have fewer education credentials and fewer social networks. Consequently, the refugees who have just started their life anew in a new country, need moral and sometimes financial support in the first months of arrival.
Fortunately, many communities all around Europe and Canada are welcoming the refugees with open hands, helping them to assimilate to the new culture and different lifestyles. The story that you are about to read below is about the wholesome Canadian hospitality to a young Syrian boy and his family. Muhammad Lila – a man who shared the story on Twitter – mentioned that it didn’t make a single headline. Well, as Bored Panda is about spreading positivity and good in the world, we made sure that the story wouldn’t go unnoticed.
More info: Twitter
RELATED:
Recently, one man shared a heartwarming story about a Syrian refugee boy and Canadian hospitality
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
“Something amazing just happened, and it didn’t make a single headline,” Muhammad writes. “It happened in a place you’ve probably never been, to a family you’ve never met. And it’s the best story you’ll read.”
Muhammad then goes on to tell how Yaman, a third-grader, came to Canada as a refugee together with his mom and three siblings. Unfortunately, the family’s father never made it out of Syria. The family of five settled in a Newfoundland province where they were welcomed by their new neighbors with “open arms.”
Yaman – a third-grader – told one kid in class that he didn’t know how to play hockey
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
When a hockey dad named Michael Doyle found out, he rummaged up a pair of kids skates and took him to “The Loop” – the local skating rink.
This was Yamen’s first time on the ice.
At the risk of sounding too Canadian: Not bad, eh?
It gets better.
(@CJPDoyle) pic.twitter.com/MIpeEakzWW
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) January 18, 2020
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Image credits: MuhammadLila
Muhammad writes that the kids didn’t want Yaman to feel left out for not playing hockey (hockey is a huge thing in Canada as you may know). So, one of the kids came home and told his dad about a Syrian boy who didn’t know how to play hockey and didn’t even have skates.
Next thing they know, “word started to spread in the community about the Syrian boy who’d never played hockey.”
One “hockey dad,” as Muhammad calls him took him out on an ice rink where Yaman experienced his first time on ice. The man whose name is Michael took to Twitter to ask if anyone had some spare equipment so he could get the boy into the local hockey league.
“It was a gigantic, Canadian ‘we got you,’ all done without having to say a single word”
Soon enough, people started sending equipment to Yaman’s front door. When a local hockey store found out about him, they “offered to give him all brand new equipment at no cost.”
Muhammad later shares that it’s not the equipment that Yaman got that’s the most important – it’s the feeling of belonging.
At the end of the thread, Muhammad also added that people are now offering to buy Yaman new equipment whenever he outgrows his current one. “And another Syrian boy in Newfoundland will be getting new equipment next week thanks to kind-hearted helpers,” he adds. You go, Canadians!
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What do you think ?
Elizabeth Schuyler 4 years ago
This is the most Canadian thing I've ever read and I'm kind of crying
Moo Moo Futch 4 years ago
This story had me crying from happiness. That is a lucky lad to have so much support from complete strangers. It shows the rest of the world how to come together for the common good. I love Canada. Don't ever change.
Elizabeth Schuyler 4 years ago
This is the most Canadian thing I've ever read and I'm kind of crying
Moo Moo Futch 4 years ago
This story had me crying from happiness. That is a lucky lad to have so much support from complete strangers. It shows the rest of the world how to come together for the common good. I love Canada. Don't ever change.
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