Al Ghanem family is welcomed

SALISBURY — The Salisbury Congregational Church hosted a dinner on Friday, July 21, to officially welcome the Al Ghanem family into the community. 

The family, who moved from Aleppo, Syria, to Salisbury in August 2016, have been in the process of transitioning into American life and, thanks to the community, have been doing very well.

When they first arrived in the U.S., the only word of English they knew was “Hartford,” because Mahmoud Al Ghanem wanted to know the capital of the state they were going to be living in. 

The Al Ghanem family consists of Mahmoud; his wife, Alia; and their seven children (six girls and one boy). 

The children’s ages range from 6 months to 12 years; the youngest was born here, at Sharon Hospital. All but the youngest are enrolled at Salisbury Central School, where they have been quickly learning English and making friends. 

The children love school, according to Zeina Mehio, who helped translate what the family was saying throughout the dinner. 

“When they have a day off from school,” she said, “they are all very sad.” 

Before attending Salisbury Central School, the children were illiterate. They had gone “to one school in Jordan for a couple days” and that was the extent of their education, Mehio explained. 

Now, most of the children can understand and speak some English, but their “confidence in speaking in a public forum is still at an early stage,” according to Lloyd Baroody, who has, along with many others, helped the family transition into their new lives. 

Mahmoud is currently working at Harney & Sons tea factory in Millerton. Elyse Harney was at the dinner Friday and stood up to note that he has been promoted to blending teas. Alia, who is a skilled cook, hopes to eventually find a part-time job in the culinary industry.

More than 50 people attended the event at the church, which featured Lebanese and Syrian cuisine prepared by Alia Al Ghanem and by Mehio. The family-style dinner provided a means for the community to meet the Al Ghanem family, learn more about their story and ask them questions about their life before and after moving to Salisbury. 

The dinner was also a fundraiser, limited to 50 people. 

Mehio and Baroody spoke about the family and their new lives during the dinner. Leo Gafney of Salisbury has been very involved with the family, and often drives them when they need a ride; he has also helped them find child care.  He is affectionately called “grandpa” by the Al Ghanem children. Many of the event organizers also thanked Wendy Hamilton of Salisbury, who owns the house that the Al Ghanem family is renting. 

After questions, the Al Ghanem girls sang “God Bless America” and “This Land is Your Land;”many of the people in the audience sang along.

Baroody said, “I had my doubts about whether or not we were doing the right thing, bringing the family here, but as I continue to see all the support from the community, it was clearly the right thing to do.” 

He noted that Salisbury has “one tenth of 1 percent” of all the Syrian refugees who currently live in the United States and “we as a community can be very proud for the support we are giving to this family.”