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Family needs interpreter

Feride Berisha is 39 years old. A widow, she has nine children from three to 18.

On Jan. 28, Berisha and her entire family will arrive in B.C. from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Welcomed by Immigrant Support Services and the Inter-Church Refugee Project, they will be housed at one of the Welcome Houses, before coming to Langley around the middle of February.

Most of their needs will be provided, but one of their major challenges has yet to be resolved, said ICRP director Rev. Rick Roberts.

"The family does not know any English and will need an interpreter," he said, adding that their ethnic origin is Romas, their country of origin is Kosovo and their country of asylum has been Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Having lived in Bosnia, they also speak Croatian.

The organization is eager to find someone who can interpret for the family, Roberts said. The interpreter's role will be to help the family over the phone, and help transmit information to support workers, he said.

The family, who will settle at Riverside Gardens in Langley City, is being sponsored by the Inter-Church Refugee Project, which Roberts described as a co-op of churches working together: St. Andrew's Anglican Church, The Anglican Church of the Ascension, Langley Presbyterian, Langley Mennonite Fellowship, The Langley United Churches, and The Home Church,

Roberts explained how the group will help Berisha and her family integrate into Canadian society: "We are responsible for getting the children in school, showing them where and how to shop, banking and budgeting, getting a local doctor and dentist, supplying them with household items such as bedding, cookware and clothing, taking them to meetings and getting them set up in ESL classes, basically helping them settle into Canadian life. "

He said that Romas "are people who no one wants. Here in Canada they have a chance of making it in a multi-cultural environment where all are accepted."

There are other ways in which the Langley community help, he said. A doctor or a dentist who would be willing to take them on would be most welcome.

The children likely won't have any toys, Roberts said, and a good up-to-date working computer would be useful for the children's school work.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Roberts at robertsrj@mac.com or (604) 530-0402.