“Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in the desert” – Gibran Khalil Gibran, The New Frontier, 1925.

This morning I woke up Lebanese, tonight I go to bed Canadian. What happened on this phenomenal day is life altering.

Lebanese by nature and nurture, Canadian by choice, both will always have a special place in my heart.

Thank you Canada. I will pay it forward.

I can’t help but wonder what makes one Lebanese, Canadian, etc…?

Is it carrying the flag on your backpack? Is it carrying the passport? Is it where you are born? Is it where you live? I am new at this, it is just happening. What I feel makes one Canadian or Lebanese is the intention to integrate in the fabric of the society as a good citizen, serving your community as you benefit from the privilege of belonging to one.

I have met many people who aspire to be Canadian, people with the potential to become an oasis in the desert. On the notion of paying it forward, I won’t waste time. Join me in helping immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers escape hardship, achieve their dream of calling themselves Canadians, and integrate within the fabric of the society they settle in. We can do so by supporting the work of  FOH – Foundation of Hope.

Please take a moment to browse the website, hopefully this will inspire you to help us reach our goal of giving out the first grant in the Spring of 2015.

Categories: Personal

Tags: asylum seeker, Canada, canadian, citizenship, foundation of hope, gibran khalil, immigrant, migrant, refugee