10 Years as Refugees — Help Me Bring My Siblings to Canada

My name is Zina Hamu. I left my home in Iraq six years ago, seeking safety and a future. I never imagined I’d end up fighting to save the lives of my siblings — or that we’d spend a decade apart.

I’m one of eight siblings. In 2014, ISIS attacked our Yazidi community in Sinjar. I was just finishing high school when everything changed. Violence tore through our lives, and my family was forced to flee. I eventually made it to Canada — alone — hoping it would only be a matter of time before I could reunite with my loved ones.

But that time never came.

Today, my family is still living as refugees in Turkey — a country many know for its beautiful landscapes and tourism, but few see the hidden reality of refugee life. My family can’t return to Iraq, where instability and trauma remain. And in Turkey, they live in constant fear of being deported back to danger. They have no legal right to work, limited access to healthcare, and no clear path to permanent safety. Their lives are shaped by waiting — and by uncertainty.

Now, after ten years in limbo, I’ve been given the opportunity to sponsor two of my family members: one of my sisters and one of my brothers. These are the only two spots granted to us through a refugee sponsorship organization — and I’m doing everything I can to make sure we don’t lose this chance.

I’ve already completed all the necessary paperwork. The only step left is to raise the required funds.

To meet the Canadian government’s sponsorship requirements, we need to come up with $42,824 CAD — that is $21,412 per person. This money doesn’t go to me — it covers their essential needs for the first year in Canada: food, housing, healthcare, and support as they rebuild their lives in safety.

This sponsorship isn’t just about paperwork or immigration. It’s about giving two people a chance to heal, to breathe, to belong, and to finally begin living instead of surviving. I need your help to bring two of my family members to safety, while I continue the fight to save the rest.

If second chances matter to you,

If you believe family and dignity can heal wounds—

Be part of our story, and help us move forward.

Even a small donation makes a real difference. I know these are tough times for many of us, but if you’re able to give just $5—or even simply share this page—you’ll be helping me bring safety, stability, and hope back to my siblings.

Please share this with your connections too.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us.

Your support doesn’t just bring my siblings to safety — it brings our family back together and gives me the strength to keep moving forward.