Proud to be living in Canada
How the Dia Desso family escaped war and made a new home thanks to you
The Dia Desso family – father, mother and their four beautiful daughters – were forced to flee Cote d’Ivoire due to the civil war. They sought safety in neighbouring Ghana, where they met a team from the Office of Refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT). ORAT facilitated the family’s private refugee sponsorship by Good Shepherd Parish in Thornhill.
A year and a half later, the family boarded a plane to Toronto. It was a joyous day for the newcomers and their parish sponsors.
The parents began ESL classes immediately, while the girls were enrolled in nearby Catholic schools. Adjusting to winter weather and learning English proved to be very difficult, but they were blessed with good health and plenty of support from the parish.
Thriving and proud
Three years later, they are totally independent. The father loves his job driving a forklift, while the mother is at home with their one-year-old son. The eldest daughter began courses at Seneca College and the other daughters continue to thrive at school.
On Holy Saturday, the whole Dia Desso family was received into the Catholic Church. They are proud to be living in Canada and are grateful to ORAT and their sponsors for the opportunities they have been given.
Photo: Young newcomers to Canada take part in programming at Catholic Crosscultural Services