RESPECT Program in Saint Jérôme a Success
On March 30, the film screening (of two videos about refugee issues) and the introduction of the RESPECT letter exchange program to the children and parents at the Saint-Pierre Parish, Saint Jérôme, Quebec, Canada has attracted more pen pals than expected.
Many more children from Canada, than the 16 refugees from AEORA (Mutual Assistance Organization for Orphan, Repatriate and Abandoned Children), asked to take part in the letter exchange. AEORA is in Uvira, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Francine Heyne, the project coordinator and the other adults who helped her to organize this night, ended up letting two, three, even four children write letters to one refugee. Some children completed their letters at home.
On April 11, 28 letters written by 33 children were on their way to Burundi and then DRC. In AEORA, Ms Lumande Feza, Director, will find additional refugee pen pals to receive the whole package of letters.
An additional group of 10 children may also be interested in exchanging letters. They will be introduced to a group of refugees too.