Ottawa Muslims raise $12K for school with large Syrian refugee population

Ottawa's Muslimcommunity has donated $12,000 to fund field trips and other activities at an east-end public elementary schoolwith alarge number of Syrian refugee students.

Carson Grove Elementary School has welcomed 110 Syrian refugee children since February, accounting for more than one-third of the student population.

This was my introduction to Canada. It was the place where I integrated, the public school. And I cannot over-emphasize howimportant it is for kids.- Sheema Khan

Several mosques and Muslim associations banded together to raise themoney, plus an additional $11,000to be donated to other schools in Ottawa whose students are dealing with socio-economic hardships.

The fundraising was spearheaded by Sheema Khan, a Kanata woman who said she decided to help after being reminded of her own experience as a young immigrant in the Canadian public school system.

Public schools 'introduction to Canada'

"I was very emotional because it reminded me of when I cameI went to a school just like this," said Khan.

"This was my introduction to Canada. It was the place where I integrated, the public school. And I can not over-emphasize howimportant it is for kids," she said.

Khan saiddonations came from ordinary Muslims acrossOttawa and Gatineauwho want to give back to the community.

"So many of us either came here as immigrantsand went through the public school system, or they have kids in the public school system. And just the idea [that] children in Ottawa, no matter what background, may not have the same start, or the same opportunitiesThat seemed a little unfair," said Khan.

Money will fund field trips, science fair projects

The money will be used to help students go on field trips to such local destinations as the Central Experimental Farmand the National Arts Centre Itwill also help with in-school activities such as concerts and science projects, according to Carson Grove principal Irene Cameron.

"Theyhave one foot in one culture, and now they have the other foot in the Canadian culture," said Cameron, after receiving the $12,000 cheque on Wednesday.

"In many cases, because of the fact that they're just new, many opportunities are not available for them. So here at the schoolis where theopportunitiescan be made for themWe'd like to take the children downhill skiing, because that's something that's trulyCanadian," she said.