Circle of giving among Syrian refugees helps launch new halal shop

Twenty-year-old Rafat Harb has risked his savings ona new grocery and halal butcher shop to serve the community that's given his family a future.

It's a venture that wouldn't be possible without the helping hand he's getting from fellow Syrian refugees who, in return,aregetting a boost toward achieving their own aspirations.

Harbhas invested his earningsfrom shovelling snow, working at Sobeys for a yearand profits from his sharein a Middle Eastern pastry business, to open Syrian Meat Shop in central Halifax three weeks ago. There's no government money in this enterprise.

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The store is benefiting from acircle of giving amongSyrianrefugees who began arriving in Nova Scotia in 2015.

A win-win

It's a fledgling businessand whileHarbcan't afford to hire staff, there is a butcherworking behind the counter thanks toan exchange between newcomers.

It's a win-win.

NaserAl Masalmeh, 53, slicesbeef with quick and neat precision, while he sharpenshis English languageskills.

Even though he has a sought-after trade, he's using hisbutcher skills to help out at the shop. It's Al Masalmeh'sway to gainCanadian work experienceand to pick up someEnglish. That will help himimprove his chances of landing a job, tocarve out a future in his new home.

Harb is grateful.

"[Naser]helped me a lot," explainsHarb. "This is his work for 30 years. I cannot find anyone to work this job and have the same experience."

There's alsoa chef who's pitching in at theshop while he workstoward his own personal goal.

Harbsays hiswish is to eventually hire all the people who are helping him to launch his business.

Feel good shopping

Not all of Harb's customers are Muslim and the young grocerwants to sell Middle Eastern foodto everyone.

However, many people walking into his store are, like him, re-building their lives.

Three women in patterned head scarves and long black robes load up on special coffee, tea with Arabic labels, and goat meat.

One of them, Saleema Almislehis spendingmore than $70 ongroceriesshe says she can't find at stores such as Costco, Sobeys or Walmart.

She also gets another benefit from shopping here:The feel-good vibe knowing that she's supporting a fellow Syrian refugee trying to make it in their new country.

As the women leave the store, they get a wave goodbye from the store's greeter, who's also there as a temporary helper.

He's Harb's father, Mohammad, who spends most of his time learning English, and helping his family get to school and appointments.

The Harbs are a family of 10, and half have muscular dystrophy, including Mohammad. Their lives in Canada are vastly improved, thanks to the medical care and the education they're receiving.

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Mohammad Harb isproud thatSyrian newcomers arecoming together to contribute to his son'sbusinessand strengthen each other, one coffee or halal meat sale at a time.

"I'm happy to service the people [who] came to Canada because we had a very difficult life before [we] came to Canada," said Mohammad.

A grand plan

Rafat Harb admits opening a solobusinessis scary, but he has a grand planand it's not to establisha foodempire.

"Maybe this business will help me, for university and for my dream," he says.

RafatHarb stayed away from school so he could push his father's wheelchair around the refugee camp, as well as earn some money for the family. He wants to put his education back on track.

Hehopes the store turns a profit so in a few years he'll have the money fortuition to study computer science to pursue his own dream career.

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