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A Son's Loss: Bringing Ali to Canada

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Name: Ali MH
Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan living in Indonesia
Risks: At risk of being caught and killed by the Taliban if he returns to Afghanistan
Opportunity: Private sponsorship to Canada
Advantages: UNHCR status, completed application, committed sponsor team (group of five)
Funding: $10,000 CAD has been raised so far, THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED!

His Story

Born in 1992 in Afghanistan, Ali led a relatively peaceful life. He had loving parents, and a father who was his closest friend and role model. By his early 20s, Ali had graduated from school and found a good job selling satellite dishes. His family was proud of his success.

His luck turned, however, when his work caught the attention of the local Taliban. They said his activities were ‘illegal’, and accused him of trying to influence Muslims to change their religion. For that perceived crime, the Taliban threatened to arrest him and sentence him to death.

After receiving numerous threats, Ali felt he had no choice but to leave Afghanistan. With the help of family and friends he set out to find a safer place.

Note: Hazaras in Afghanistan have long suffered persecution, systematic discrimination and deprivations of all kinds because of their ethnicity, religious and political beliefs. Hazaras are Shia-Muslim and the third largest ethnic minority in Afghanistan.

A Harrowing Escape
 
Ali’s first flight was from Afghanistan to India. Shortly after arriving, he received news that his father had been killed by the Taliban. They had tried to force him to reveal Ali’s location so they could target him next. His father refused and paid a terrible price for his loyalty to his son.

After ten days of waiting and grieving for his father, Ali was taken by boat to Indonesia via Malaysia. Having never been on a boat before, he was terrified, not knowing what to expect or when he would finally arrive.

He just knew that he had abandoned his home country, and might never see the people and things he had loved all his life.
 
“As I was entering the small wooden boat with my backpack, staring into the heart of that terrifying ocean, I was thinking these might be the last moments of my life.”
 
Detained in Indonesia

Soon after arriving in Indonesia, he took a flight to Jakarta – where, for over five years, he was held in various detention centres, including a long stay in Balikpapan.

“We were locked inside our rooms and not allowed to see the sunshine. We couldn’t use our phones or have any money to buy what we needed. We were treated like criminals.”

The UNHCR has largely washed its hands of these refugees, and they have no hope of resettlement. This endless uncertainty causes high levels of stress and for many, deep depression.

This is no way to treat people in the prime of their lives.


His life now

In late 2018, Ali was transferred from the limbo of Balikpapan limbo to the Tanjung Pinang community house.
 
Ali started learning English, knowing it would be a vital skill for his future. He also started taking drawing classes, as visual art had been a passion since he was a child.

Ali spends his days focused on having a positive mental attitude to keep his life on track and stay hopeful. 

The Opportunity 

Ali dreams of a better and safe future in a country, where he can be free to build his future again, pursue his dream of being an entrepreneur, and continue to help others.

It’s possible. Since he is officially certified as a refugee by the UNHCR – unlike the vast majority of the world’s refugees – he qualifies for Canada’s private sponsorship program. It is his only hope of getting out of his current terrible state of limbo.

According to Canadian Immigration, $16,500 CAD  must be raised first and held in trust before the sponsorship application can move forward. The funds raised will go entirely towards Ali for his first year of expenses.

The good news: $10,000 CAD has already been raised by family and friends for Ali's sponsorship. That means ‘only’ $6,500 is needed to reach our goal and submit the application. It sounds like a lot, but we can do it!

As the person who launched this fundraiser, I can say that the process really works. We have submitted applications for half a dozen other Hazara refugees in the past year, and another half dozen for people from other countries.

The Last Word

It all starts with your gift. If you can help financially, please click on the “Donate” button. Every dollar brings us one step to our goal.

To learn more about Ali, read his profile on the Northern Lights website. You can also reach out to him directly on Facebook

If you or someone you know would like to help bring Ali to a better life, please contact his friend and volunteer Stephen Watt.

Reach out and discover how wonderful it is to privately sponsor a good person to start a new life – with your help – in Canada!

Thank you for your support. And help spread the word by sharing this post!
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Donations 

  • Martin Wade
    • $250
    • 4 yrs
  • Greg Lichti
    • $250
    • 4 yrs
  • Jennifer van Rooyen
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
  • Jan Henderson
    • $40
    • 4 yrs
  • Tim Abboud
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Stephen Watt
Organizer
Toronto, ON

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