Two brothers, one dream
Donation protected
When the war in Syria started, Wasim and his older brother Hussam were clear on one thing: they did not want to fight. “I cannot shoot honest and civil people,” Wasim says today. As the bombs fell on their home town of Aleppo, they looked for safety, first in the UAE, then in Jordan, where they live today.
What kind of life is it? They are not permitted by Jordanian law to hold jobs, or work at all. They must survive on the $20 that the United Nations provides them each month. They sleep on the floor of a concrete cell that is little better than a prison, and hope for a better life.
“Really I don't know what to say. My tears are falling. I become very weak with thinking too much. My future was stolen from me.”
There is still hope. These are talented, motivated young men. They have marketable skills, Wasim as a nutritionist, and Hussam in business management, the subjects they studied in college. Their English is superb. What they lack is opportunity.
We can give them a second chance. If they are ever going to discover the peace and security they deserve, they need our help. We need to act now.
Through social media, Wasim and Hussam made contact with a number of Canadian volunteers who have been active in helping Syrian refugees find a better life. The group includes Vania Davidovic of Oakville, My Dang of Burlington and Stephen Watt of Toronto, who have come to know Wasim and Hussam over the past year and consider them friends.
What’s holding us back? Financing. The amount of $25,200 is the cost required by the Canadian government to settle two adults one year in this country. My Dang has agreed to provide a furnished apartment at her house in Burlington, which brings down the cost by $15,000, bringing the total fundraising goal to $10,200. This sounds like a lot, but it is definitely within our reach.
My name is Chris Hallett I am Board Chair of Community Matters Toronto which is the operating name of a charity registered with the CRA St. James Town Family Literacy Services.
As an organization we are the Community Sponsor for 32 refugee families. As the Community Sponsor among other things we hold the necessary funds for each application and distruibute in accordance with agreement which is signed between the Government of Canada, The Refugee Family and ourselves.
We presently are raising funds through Go Fund Me for 4 separate refugee Applications.
We have no direct family relationship with Wasim and Hussam. Like many refugees caught in terrible circumstances the brothers contacted us through Social Media. Although difficult to do we had to make a choice and as we had established a good communication withthe brothers we decided to help support their refugee application by rasing the necessary funds through Go Fund Me.
Specificall the funds raised will be spent of the first year of living in Canada as follows:
Your donation will contribute to the family's budget for the first year including:
Food and household staples $6,350
Clothing $1,000
Startup costs $650
Transportation: $ 1,200
Medical costs $ 500
Telephone: $ 500
We distribute the funds to Wassim and Hussam in accordance with a plan which we file with the Government of Canada and is signed off by the Government, Wassim and Hassam and ourselves. Typically start up funds are given on arrival in Canada and the living expenses are distributed on a monthly basis.
What happens with your donation? It is held in trust by Community Matters Toronto and disbursed under guidelines laid out by the Canadian government. Community Matters, a registered charity and constituent group, has worked to bring a number of refugees into the country, and has helped even more get settled. The head of Community Matters, Chris Hallett, an accountant by trade, will be administering the funds as he has with many other newcomers to Canada.
The necessary paperwork has been completed to bring the brothers to Canada. All we need is your financial support. Every dollar brings us one step toward giving these talented young men a new start in a country they are looking forward to call home.
Please help us bring them here today.
Thanks for your support – and help spread the word!
What kind of life is it? They are not permitted by Jordanian law to hold jobs, or work at all. They must survive on the $20 that the United Nations provides them each month. They sleep on the floor of a concrete cell that is little better than a prison, and hope for a better life.
“Really I don't know what to say. My tears are falling. I become very weak with thinking too much. My future was stolen from me.”
There is still hope. These are talented, motivated young men. They have marketable skills, Wasim as a nutritionist, and Hussam in business management, the subjects they studied in college. Their English is superb. What they lack is opportunity.
We can give them a second chance. If they are ever going to discover the peace and security they deserve, they need our help. We need to act now.
Through social media, Wasim and Hussam made contact with a number of Canadian volunteers who have been active in helping Syrian refugees find a better life. The group includes Vania Davidovic of Oakville, My Dang of Burlington and Stephen Watt of Toronto, who have come to know Wasim and Hussam over the past year and consider them friends.
What’s holding us back? Financing. The amount of $25,200 is the cost required by the Canadian government to settle two adults one year in this country. My Dang has agreed to provide a furnished apartment at her house in Burlington, which brings down the cost by $15,000, bringing the total fundraising goal to $10,200. This sounds like a lot, but it is definitely within our reach.
My name is Chris Hallett I am Board Chair of Community Matters Toronto which is the operating name of a charity registered with the CRA St. James Town Family Literacy Services.
As an organization we are the Community Sponsor for 32 refugee families. As the Community Sponsor among other things we hold the necessary funds for each application and distruibute in accordance with agreement which is signed between the Government of Canada, The Refugee Family and ourselves.
We presently are raising funds through Go Fund Me for 4 separate refugee Applications.
We have no direct family relationship with Wasim and Hussam. Like many refugees caught in terrible circumstances the brothers contacted us through Social Media. Although difficult to do we had to make a choice and as we had established a good communication withthe brothers we decided to help support their refugee application by rasing the necessary funds through Go Fund Me.
Specificall the funds raised will be spent of the first year of living in Canada as follows:
Your donation will contribute to the family's budget for the first year including:
Food and household staples $6,350
Clothing $1,000
Startup costs $650
Transportation: $ 1,200
Medical costs $ 500
Telephone: $ 500
We distribute the funds to Wassim and Hussam in accordance with a plan which we file with the Government of Canada and is signed off by the Government, Wassim and Hassam and ourselves. Typically start up funds are given on arrival in Canada and the living expenses are distributed on a monthly basis.
What happens with your donation? It is held in trust by Community Matters Toronto and disbursed under guidelines laid out by the Canadian government. Community Matters, a registered charity and constituent group, has worked to bring a number of refugees into the country, and has helped even more get settled. The head of Community Matters, Chris Hallett, an accountant by trade, will be administering the funds as he has with many other newcomers to Canada.
The necessary paperwork has been completed to bring the brothers to Canada. All we need is your financial support. Every dollar brings us one step toward giving these talented young men a new start in a country they are looking forward to call home.
Please help us bring them here today.
Thanks for your support – and help spread the word!
Organizer
Chris Hallett
Organizer
Toronto, ON
