Help Afghan Human Rights Defenders Get to Safety

I'm asking for your help in sponsoring an Afghan human rights defender and his family as refugees coming to Canada. I became friends with "S" back in 2019. There are specific aspects of his family's profile and their courageous work in support of human rights and girls' education that puts them at risk. The description below is generalized, since he and his family may face retribution from the Taliban if they are identifiable and their refugee applications become known.

"S" and his siblings championed liberal democracy, human rights, and gender equality in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban's takeover last year, their lives have become a living hell. On several occasions, "S" and some of the older siblings have been arbitrarily detained and, in some cases, tortured by the Taliban. The youngest sibling has survived two school-based suicide bombings.

After an intense fall and winter of preparations, 9 family members have made the perilous journey out of Afghanistan, have spots reserved in Canada's Operation Afghan Safety program, and have a whole crew of Newfoundlanders ready and eager to welcome them to St. John's! 2 of the family members have already passed the interview and biometrics stages of refugee processing, and could be landing in Canada as early as June!

A local business and Calgary-based duo have separately kicked in the funds to fully support the sponsorship costs of 4 other family members. Now "all" we need to do is raise the remaining $9.5K associated with sponsoring the family. Friends and family have (unbelievably) raised $83.2K to support 5 of the family members.

The total fundraising goal is $92.7K. The costs include:

Pakistan-related expenses have been and will be transferred to the family directly via Western Union. $70,000 was sent to the Association for New Canadians (ANC) in December. The remaining $15,700 (for $85.7K total) will be sent to the ANC by April 22; the ANC will then hold these funds in trust until the family's arrival. If we exceed our fundraising goal, additional funds will be transferred to the family directly upon their arrival in Canada in order to assist with start-up costs while they settle in.

If the family is unable to arrive in Canada, funds raised towards settlement costs will go towards the settlement of another refugee family identified by the ANC. If you would prefer to be reimbursed in this scenario, please indicate this at the time of making your donation, so that we can reimburse you in the unlikely event that the family does not land in Canada.

These donations are not eligible for charitable giving tax receipts , but the impact of your support may literally save lives. Thank you for considering.

Please convey my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to your

generous friends. Words cannot express our feelings. The

impact of their humanitarian work will remain in the memory

and life of our future generations. -"S"