Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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w a l k i n g
t o g e t h e r
Some ideas for helping the refugee family keep
active and eat healthily
1. You might want to pay special attention to ensuring the family has ways to keep active
in the winter, since this season will be new to them and they may be less inclined to
venture outside. Winter sports will be entirely new to the refugee family, yet it is likely
that at least the children and youth will probably be keen to take part.
2. If you are able to budget a specific amount of money for them to use on physical
activity, let them know. Since they may initially feel bad using money to pay for exercise,
help them to understand how important being physically active will be both for their
future health and for helping them to move on with life and recover from all the difficult
things they have experienced. Tell them it’s important to you that they are able to be
active and to choose the activities that best suit them.
3. Refugee children and adults may have never learned to swim - if not, and if they are
interested, would you consider enrolling them in swimming lessons?
4. Soccer (known as “fútbol” in Colombia) is loved by nearly all Colombians. There is a
good chance that at least some members of the refugee family - young or old - might
enjoy being connected with local possibilities to play soccer.
5. If your refugee family is of rural roots, they may appreciate the possibility to participate
in some gardening of their own. If the home where they are living has space for a
garden, find out if they would be interested in planting one. Have someone from your
church explain the timing for planting and harvesting in Canada, and help them find
seeds and gardening supplies. If they are not able to plant their own garden, find out if
there are any community gardening projects nearby in the community, where the family
could tend their own plot or work together with others. This kind of project might not
be of interest to all Colombian refugee families, but to some it could be of very special
interest - it would be worth while finding out if it would be something your refugee
family would enjoy. It would also provide a source of fresh, healthy produce during the
summer and fall.
6. As the seasons change, so does Canadian produce. Some fruits and vegetables will be
unfamiliar to the refugee family. Finding ways to introduce them to new produce and
also new recipes could provide for some enjoyable times together with the family.
7. The idea of preserving or freezing food is foreign to Colombians, since fresh produce is
available year round in Colombia. While it is not a necessity in Canada any longer, with
super markets providing imported produce year round, there may still be occasions
where the refugee family might want to consider freezing or preserving some sort
of local seasonal fruit or vegetable. If you think that this might be something useful
or interesting to teach the refugee family, rest assured it will be something new and
potentially enjoyable for them to learn.