Donations help fix what war rips apart

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Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday November 28, 2009
Reproduced with permission.
Photo: David Lipnowski/Winnipeg Free Press

Red Cross program reunites families

Jennifer Montebruno helps reunite families separated by war or disaster through Red Cross program that is funded by the United Way.

But for many, she's a hero and a reason for hope.

The 32-year-old works as humanitarian issues program co-ordinator with the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba. A major part of her job is running the Restoring Family Links program, helping to reunite families who have been separated by conflict or disasters around the world.

Montebruno deals frequently with immigrant families who find themselves in Winnipeg, separated from their families because of war, disaster, or other crises. It's Montebruno who plays detective and works with other Red Cross agencies around the world to help track them down.

"Last week, a Winnipeg mother from Africa came in seeking to find out what happened to her five children," Montebruno said. "The last time she saw them there was militia knocking at the door and the father was killed.

"We began the tracing request and were able to find all of them in a refugee camp. For the first time in five years, she saw pictures of her children and got messages from them."

The Red Cross chapter of Manitoba received nearly $300,000 from the United Way this year. A large chunk of that helps Montebruno run Restoring Family Links.

"The program) helps Winnipeggers deal with trauma and find peace. What a wonderful way to assist someone who has just come here and help them find their children!" she said.

Montebruno also works in humanitarian law and promotes leadership in Manitobans, working with everyone from youth to seniors. Montebruno said she's learned many people are born with the same passion to help as she was.

"The Manitoba flood was the perfect example," she said. "There were volunteers here day and night working on their own time assisting people they hadn't even met."

Even the kids are enthusiastic, she said. Cheques from schools to help disaster-stricken areas like the Philippines are a common sight.

"One thing I'm always amazed by is the ability of kids and schools to pick up the pace," she said. "They're raising money in six weeks with their own volition. Kids (are the) savviest generation, they know what's going on around the world, they see it and want to make a difference."

Montebruno herself got involved with humanitarian issues when she began volunteering with the Red Cross in Grade 12. As she grew up, she moved on to other work, but said when she moved to Winnipeg from Ontario eight years ago, her career began to fall into place.

"All of sudden my brain just clicked. I wasn't involved, I had left and had done other things in my life," she said. "As I took the bus to school I saw the Red Cross building every day. I was ready to come back."

Montebruno has been working in her current position for the past 18 months and is set to graduate in December with a degree in international development studies from the University of Winnipeg.