Alfred & Family – Seven Months in Canada

 

February 2026 OneWorld Multicultural Festival, Penticton. Organized by SOICS. 

Yvonne was delighted to find the flag of her birth country - Burundi.

Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise arrived in Canada on July 9th, 2025 through the Canadian Group of Five Sponsorship Program, which means they have now been here for seven months! The formal financial support lasts for one year - but the bonds formed will last much longer than that.

While I am not a Group of Five member, I have known of Alfred since Brenda first met him in 2015. Over the years, I witnessed the effort and perseverance it took on this end to complete the paperwork to move Alfred and his family from the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi to a new life here in the Okanagan.  And for Alfred and Yvonne the wait required resilience, and for Yvonne especially, saying goodbye to her mother and siblings was hard. And beginning again in a new country is another chapter entirely.

However beneficial the outcome will be - the path is not easy.

I emigrated from the UK to New Zealand with my husband and our four-year-old daughter, and five years later we immigrated again - this time to Canada. Even moving between Commonwealth countries, speaking (more or less) the same language, the transition was daunting. There are subtle differences in laws, systems, expectations, humour, and unspoken social norms. You miss your family and friends. You miss your routines. You miss being known. The first year can feel especially fragile - you question your decisions and wonder whether you were brave or foolish.

So I can only imagine how complex the transition must feel for a family who has spent most - or all  - of their lives in one refugee camp or another. Canada offers extraordinary opportunity and safety, but it also asks newcomers to navigate unfamiliar systems, climates, accents, assumptions, and rhythms of life.

The Group of Five give friendship and guidance to Alfred and his family, helping them understand how things work here - from banking and pre-school to healthcare and winter boots - while ensuring they can maintain their own culture, language, faith, and identity. Integration does not mean erasing who you are. It means building a life where your history and your future can coexist.

And that takes time.

A few months ago the family moved from Summerland to the nearby town of Penticton where there are more amenities – including the invaluable organization SOICS (South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services) where Yvonne takes English classes and meets with other newcomers.  Alfred has a job in Penticton, and Praise is attending Strong Start.

The first year lays the foundation, but belonging is built over time. As Alfred and his family continue finding their footing, they do so supported by a community that respects both where they come from and where they are going.

We all wish the family well - and thank everyone who has given friendship and support to the family before and after they arrived in Canada. 

(The Group of Five support team members are Brenda L, Peter S, Corrianne H, Angela M and Susan B. And Maureen B. gives counselling services  Support also comes from G5 family members and friends – as well as the wider community.)

CLICK the REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP label to see all posts about the family sponsorship. 

Welcome Home: Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise Have Arrived

 

Penticton Airport

We are delighted to share the long-awaited news that Alfred, Yvonne, and their son Praise have arrived safely in Canada from Malawi and are now settling into life in the Okanagan. A small group of supporters was there to welcome them at Penticton Airport. We intentionally kept the arrival quiet and gentle, knowing how long and tiring the journey had been - especially as flying was just the first of many “firsts” they will experience in their new lives.

This moment is particularly meaningful for us. In 2023 Trenton, and Richard H (Group of 5) visited Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp.  And earlier this year, One Person President, Brenda -  and Peter (Group of 5) were able to visit the family also. Brenda and Peter have known Alfred since 2015, and over the years this family has become very dear to our hearts. Seeing them arrive safely, after such a long and uncertain journey, is something we will never forget. They are no longer just a family we support - they are now part of our community.

Unlike many refugees who come from established homes in their countries of origin, Alfred and Yvonne have never had the experience of living what most of us would consider a “normal” life in Malawi. Coming to Canada means learning countless new things - from using stoves and running water, to sleeping in real beds, navigating transportation, and adjusting to an entirely new culture.

As I shared in an earlier post, this journey has only been possible because of the steady, compassionate support of so many people over the years. Monthly sponsors, one-time donors, and quiet behind-the-scenes helpers helped ensure the family’s basic needs were met while they waited -and made this moment of arrival possible.

We are grateful to already have a strong settlement team in place through the Group of Five sponsorship, who will guide the family through their first year in Canada. Beyond that, there is a growing circle of community members who have followed their journey, exchanged messages with Alfred, and expressed a genuine interest in helping them feel at home. We know this support will quickly grow into lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging.

Welcome home, Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise. This next chapter begins with hope, care, and community -  and we are honoured to be part of it.

Group of Five member, Angela with Alfred. Angela has also facilitated collecting donations, and regularly donates to the kid's running team that Alfred set up in the refugee camp.

The Group of Five Settlement Team and well-wishers

A Thank You from the Heart: Supporting Amina, Alfred, and Their Families

Amina (centre at the back) with her children, and grandson Praise. They send pictures showing the money they receive to thank the wonderful people who donate. 

Behind every successful act of compassion is a community that shows up - quietly, consistently, and with generosity. This post is a heartfelt thank you to the many people who have helped support two intertwined families living in Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, and who are walking alongside us as we work to welcome Alfred, Yvonne, and their young son Praise to Summerland.

Many of you have followed this journey through updates shared on the Amina and Alfred Support Group Facebook page. I wanted to bring those messages together here - not only to document progress, but to acknowledge the people whose monthly kindness is quite literally sustaining lives.

The Families We Are Supporting

Brenda Lowe (One Person co-founder & President) first met Alfred in Tanzania in 2015. He was born in a refugee camp and, without legal citizenship, was eventually forced to relocate to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. There, he met Yvonne, and together they welcomed their son, Praise, now three years old.

Through the support of The One Person Project, Alfred and Yvonne were able to have a wedding - an essential step that allowed Yvonne and Praise to be added to Alfred’s immigration file. Their application has since been approved, and we are now navigating the final stages of bringing them to Canada. They are expected to arrive in Summerland this May, a moment that will be life-changing for them - and for us.

In the meantime, community support continues to be vital. Monthly donations help provide food, clothing, medicine, and basic household necessities for:

• Amina, Yvonne’s mother, and her six remaining children

• Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise

• Alfred’s youth running group, where he volunteers his time coaching children in the camp

During the One Person 2025 volunteer trip to Tanzania, Brenda and her partner Peter were able to travel onward to Malawi and visit both families in Dzaleka. Seeing daily life there firsthand reinforced just how much these monthly contributions matter - and how transformative relocation to Canada will be.

Alfred, Yvonne and Praise

Our Regular Donors 💛

Some people have stepped forward again and again, providing steady, reliable support month after month. This consistency makes planning possible and brings much-needed stability to the families.

With deep gratitude, thank you to our regular supporters:

• Richard H. & Corrianne H. - ongoing monthly support for Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise

• Angela M. - via Replenish Refillery – ongoing donations supporting the running group and youth athletes - with additional support going to Amina's family

• Gary C.  - consistent monthly contributions to Alfred’s running group

Their commitment goes far beyond dollars - it represents belief, dignity, and long-term care.

The One Person Project also gives regular additional support for the families.

Additional Donors We Thank Sincerely

We would also like to warmly thank everyone who has contributed at different points along this journey. Each gift, whether once or many times, has made a real difference.

With appreciation to:

• Maureen B.

• Philomena S.

• Peter S.

• Toni F.

• Pat J.

• Karen S.

• Fred R.

• Anna S.

• Melissa P.

• Brenda L.

• Susan B.

• Beki H.

• Gary K.

• Denise W.

• Kim

• Shawna H,

• McKinnon Family

Some donors supported family needs directly; others contributed toward the running group, travel preparation, or seasonal support such as Christmas. (Please contact me if I have inadvertently missed off any names!)

Moments of Joy and Gratitude

Throughout the year, we’ve been fortunate to receive thank-you messages, videos, and photos from the families - including Christmas greetings, proud updates about Praise learning English, and messages of thanks from Amina and her children.

Although Alfred’s family wasn’t able to be in Canada for Christmas as hoped, your generosity ensured they could still celebrate together in the camp, with food, small treats, and a sense that they are not forgotten.

Looking Ahead

As Yvonne and Praise prepare to say goodbye to her mother and siblings, it is a moment filled with both hope and sadness.

To everyone who has given, shared posts, asked questions, or quietly followed along: thank you. You are part of this story. And when Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise arrive in Summerland, they will arrive already held by a community that has been walking with them for years.

We have a wonderful 'Group of Five' settlement team - Susan B, Angela M, Maureen B. Corrianne H. and Brenda. A Group of Five (G5) is a group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who come together to privately sponsor refugees. The group commits to providing financial support and settlement assistance for the first year in Canada, helping newcomers establish safe, stable, and independent lives.

For Alfred, Yvonne, and Praise, The One Person Project is providing the full financial support, and all members of the Group of Five are active TOPP members - working together to guide the family through arrival, settlement, and their first year in Summerland.

Asante sana — thank you so very much.

CORRECTION: Peter S. was added to the Group of Five application to replace Maureen as she will be providing counselling services to the family - and it would be classed as a conflict of interest. Maureen and her family will still be very much a part of the settlement team. Maureen is a registered clinical counsellor and supervisor with extensive training and experience in working with trauma as well as helping people with life's challenges. 

Game Changer for a Family in Malawi

This is Amina - a widowed mother of seven and grandmother to one. She supports her family as a farmer and tomato seller living in the refugee camp.

As well as running Simon’s Orphanage and supporting the Royal Academy School in Kahama, Tanzania - with your support - we are also changing the lives of a family who live in a refugee camp in Malawi. The Dzaleka refugee camp, designed to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, currently hosts more than 50,000. Conditions are dire.

Brenda (One Person President) has formed a sponsor group to help a family which consists of mom Amina, seven kids and her grandchild, Praise. And thanks to the sponsors, Amina and her family now have power in their small home in the camp. The family had been living in 12 hours of darkness a night and couldn’t afford fuel to light it with a lamp very often.

Please let us know if you are able to make a one-off donation of $120 to help support the family - and of course, we welcome donations of any size.

Act now, and let's create a brighter future! 

NOTE: If you sponsor the orphanage - your donations support the children there. The Amina Sponsor Group is a separate one.

Brenda first met Alfred, in Kahama a few years ago. Alfred is now married to Amina's daughter, Yvonne, which is how we connected with Amina. The One Person Project has formed a Group of Five to bring Alfred, Yvonne and their child Praise, to the Okanagan. The Fab Five have all been long-term volunteers and have taken self-funded trips to Kahama, and have served on the board or committee currently or in the past. 

Please contact simonschildrenscentre@gmail.com or contact me here for more information.

Thank you! 

A Visit to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp

Left to right - Trenton, Donatien, Richard, and Alfred at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp

During the annual One Person Project volunteer trip to Kahama, Richard H. and his son Trenton took a meaningful side journey to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. The visit was deeply personal: a chance to spend time with Alfred, Yvonne, Amina, and their family, strengthening bonds that have grown over three years of connection. Richard and his wife Corrianne have been sending funds to the extended family for a number of years now, and being there in person was an amazing experience.

The visit also had a wider purpose. Richard and Trenton captured footage for an upcoming documentary that tells Alfred’s remarkable journey - from life in the refugee camp to the hope of a new beginning. Richard and Corrianne, are part of the Group of Five sponsors helping bring Alfred, Yvonne, and their son Praise to the Okanagan, and this visit was another step in giving support to the family as they prepare for their next chapter.

Amina and Family

Supporting the Mda Wetu Children's Athletics Team in a Refugee Camp

The children on the camp receiving nourishment before training.

At One Person, our work has always been rooted in relationships  -  one person connecting with another, and communities growing from those connections. One such relationship has led us to the Mda Wetu Athletics Team in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi.

Our friend Alfred, himself a refugee in Dzaleka, is dedicating his life to athletics and to the children and youth he coaches. His team is called Mda Wetu, meaning “Our Time” - a powerful reminder that even in the most difficult circumstances, young people deserve hope, purpose, and a chance to dream. 

(One Person President, Brenda, first met Alfred in 2015, and the connection has remained part of our wider One Person Project community ever since.)

Why Sports Matter

By taking part in sports in refugee camps, children can begin to rebuild their lives. Many refugee children haven’t had the experience of simply being kids and having fun. Being part of a team, with a shared goal and sense of belonging, helps restore normalcy, builds confidence, and gives youth a renewed sense of purpose.

Community-Led Support

This initiative is being spearheaded by One Person Project member Angela Machuik, who has taken the lead in organizing community support for the running team. Angela’s goal is simple and powerful: to raise just $75 a month so the children have access to food -  enough nourishment to give them the strength to train, run, and keep showing up for one another.

The running group already receives regular support from members of our community, including Gary C., Naomi A., and Lori D. Their generosity is helping turn a small monthly goal into real, sustained impact.

In places where food is scarce, even something as simple as a bowl of porridge can make the difference between a child being able to train - or having to sit it out.

Once food needs are reliably covered, Angela hopes to grow this support to include basics like running shoes and simple training tools.

This is what One Person Project is about: one connection, one action, one community at a time - and a group of children being reminded that this is their time.

If you’d like to support the Mda Wetu team, please reach out - every contribution, large or small, truly matters.

Find out more by joining the Okanagan Outreach for Youth Refugee Running Team group on Facebook, or calling in to Replenish Refillery, 9921 Main Street, Summerland.

The team participated in a 5k Run, Walk & Activities Event held by The Faith in Children organization in Malawai. Look at the joy that achievement brings - especially if you are living in poverty in a refugee camp.

YOUR DONATIONS MATTER. Thank you so much! 

UPDATE: It's been a while for the blog - but we've still been supporting the community of Kahama!

I stopped working on the One Person blog a few years ago as we have a Facebook page and our sponsors receive newsletters, but a few people have said they would like to be able to refer to the blog - so here we are!

Well my friends - there's a lot to catch up on - so lets start with a story - 

 

Simon's Orphanage & Children's Centre

CONTACT US

If you are here it means you are looking at ways to impact the lives of children and youth. And maybe change your own life too? Whether you sponsor a child, or take a self-funded trip with us to Simon's Orphanage & Children's Centre, you can be assured that you will be effecting meaningful change. We are a grassroots, volunteer organization based in Summerland, B.C. We been working in Kahama, Tanzania since 2007, and started to build and operate the orphanage in 2013.

Volunteering

As a volunteer at Simon's Children's Centre & Orphanage your most important task will be to interact with the children and youth. The orphans will really enjoy having you there and nothing can compare to making them smile or seeing how happy they are to play or practice their English with you!

• Other tasks will include physical work such as painting, yard-work, shopping, and unloading resources from the shipping container. There may also be opportunities to volunteer at the Royal Academy School.
• Duration: You can choose how long to stay but we recommend a 2 week minimum. Brenda takes a team once or twice a year and stays for around 6 weeks. Some volunteers have taken the trip on their own. (We have many contacts in Kahama, including our One Person Agent, Emmanuel.)
• Fees: We do not charge you to be a One Person volunteer.
• Costs: You will pay all your own travel, food, accommodation and associated costs (as we do).

 For more information Contact Brenda

Sponsoring the Orphanage $30 Per Month

It takes just a few minutes to set up your sponsorship. You can set up a monthly Direct Debit of $30 payable to the Summerland Credit Union. If you currently bank at the Credit Union, go in and they will set up the payment. If you bank at another institution, we will supply you with the PAD agreement form to fill out and sign. They also require a blank cheque and two pieces of ID. The ideal amount is $40 but we are unable to issue tax-receipts for sponsorship at this time, so One Person will fundraise the difference, an amount that will more than cover the tax rebate you would have received.

Your on-going donations will help to:

• Pay for maintenance of the buildings, and the development and maintenance of the grounds
• Feed and clothe the children
• Pay for medical expenses
• Pay school fees, and school uniforms and supplies
• Provide further education and vocational education for youth who leave school
• Pay a wage to a matron and patron to live with, and care for the orphans
• Pay for a live-in Social Worker and our Agent
• Provide emergency funds
• Provide project aid for the Royal Academy School
• NOTE: All One Person members are unpaid volunteers. 100% of your donations go to our projects in Kahama

 For more information Contact Brenda

Group of Five will transform three lives...

This is Alfred, his partner Yvonne, and their newborn son, Praise. Praise was born in the refugee camp, as was his mother, and Alfred has spent much of his life in refugee camps - most recently here at the Dzaleka camp in Malawi. 

A Group of Five (G5) sponsor group is working to bring this young family to the Okanagan. The process was initiated by Brenda, President of The One Person Project, alongside Dee W. who assisted with researching the application process. The sponsoring group - Brenda, Maureen B., Angela M., Corrianne H., and Susan B., are all longtime members of the One Person Project community. Funding is being provided by The One Person Project, and each sponsor has served on the One Person Committee and has personally travelled, at their own expense, to Kahama, Tanzania, the community we have supported for many years.

Isn't it amazing that lives can be transformed once the decision is made to take action?

EDIT: Maureen will be supporting the family in her role as a registered clinical counsellor and supervisor with extensive training and experience in working with trauma as well as helping people with life's challenges.  Peter S. will be a G5 sponsor.

The Amani Care & Treatment Centre

The Amani Clubhouse at the Kahama District Hospital 

The Kahama District Hospital has a children's Care and Treatment Clinic that provides treatment services and counselling for children with HIV/AIDS.  In 2009 the hospital created a much-need social support group for around 20 children, and asked if we would add our support. And we did. Nine years later the clinic caters to over 200 children!

We ordered tables, chairs and bookshelves from local carpenters, and shipped resources and extra furnishings in the One Person sea-containers, including sewing machines to help the young women practise for their tailoring apprenticeships. We created and funded a food program, which is now mostly being covered by the City of Kahama and local donations. 

We visit on each trip and deliver resources and stay up-to-date with progress and possible needs. Our visits are also a cause for great celebration as we hold a party for the children and their families each time we go. 

The 2018 team purchased the provisions from the local market 

and helped to prepare the food, and the Amani ladies 

cooked for around 400 people. 

The menu was rice, beef, beans and and watermelon. 

The children also received small gifts 

and practical resources for their family. 

 A satisfying, but exhausting day! 

 

 Most families in the Kahama region survive through subsistence farming and live in huts without furniture, running water or power. There are few paved roads and for most people a journey to the clinic means a walk of several hours or more.  

Imagine making this walk when your child, and probably you, are sick and hungry. Imagine being a child and arriving at the Amani clubhouse and being given food, life-saving medicines and having the opportunity to play with toys and books, skipping ropes and soccer balls. 

Read more about the Amani Clinic & Clubhouse. 

Visit our facebook page for more photos.

Contact us to find out how to volunteer or to make a donation. 

You can also donate now online. 

Asante Sana - Thank You! 

Giving Hope

We cannot guarantee that all the children at Muvuma will do well, or even that they will stay at the orphanage; but we do know that they are receiving the chance of a hope for a better future. 

 Team members Susan, Kayla and Rylee 

hanging out with the kids. 

Many of the children have been living on the streets, or have lived with relatives who are already facing the struggle of having to survive in extreme poverty. And, as is the way with many children and teenagers, the orphans often do not realize that they have been given an extraordinary opportunity, and may rebel against suddenly having to work hard at school or follow rules at Muvuma. Some children may run away, back to the familiarity and freedom of the streets, or they might not settle well into their new life, but while they are under our roof they will be safe and fed and clothed. 

While some of the children may not apply themselves at school, others are just not academically inclined and have other strengths so we provide the opportunity for the youth to receive vocational training when they leave school. Thanks to everyone who makes a donation, attends our fundraisers or sponsors a child we know that we are making impactful changes to young lives. 

Julie is already trying to work out 

when she can come back to Muvuma!

Each visit Brenda and the team deliver 

school supplies and small gifts from the sponsors.

The boys especially appreciate Kelly

being around as the orphans rarely get to interact 

with male role-models

 Visit our facebook page for more photos and stories. Thank you for your support. Contact us to find out how to sponsor the orphanage, volunteer or to make a donation. You can also donate online. 

Asante Sana - Thank You! 

Paying-it-Forward

Joseph

Brenda (One Person co-founder and President) used her own funds to help Joseph receive training and set up his own business in Kahama, Tanzania.  

Summerland School in Lugunga Village.

The team delivered much-needed educational supplies. 

Joseph has now set up a preschool in his village, which they have called the Summerland School; this fills our hearts as we are based in Summerland, British Columbia. 

Joseph and others volunteer their time to teach the children the pre-academic skills that they need before attending primary school. 

In 2008, the then Summerland Mayor, David Gregory signed a Friendship Agreement between Summerland & Kahama, and Joseph's actions are another binding thread in the BC - Tanzania connection. (No financial funding is given, but the City of Summerland promotes our organization on their website.)

Here are our other blogs on what we have done to assist education in the Kahama region. 

Visit our facebook page for more photos and stories.

Contact us to find out how to sponsor the orphanage, volunteer or to make a donation. You can also donate online. 

Asante Sana - Thank You!