Canadian resettlement for young refugee artist
Donation protected
At 22 years old, Murtaza Ali is dreaming of a future where he can have the freedom to practice his art in peace in a country that values artistic expression.
This talented young artist’s family fled Afghanistan to live in Pakistan in the late 1990s. However, the rise of the Taliban and the increasing persecution of Hazara Shia Muslims even in Pakistan made the situation untenable for him. Having lost his father, he fled alone when he was just 16 years old to escape the violence perpetrated against his people. Since then, Murtaza has been stuck in Indonesia (for over 6 years now), and while he is registered with UNHCR, there is no resettlement in sight and he faces an uncertain future in limbo. The situation in Indonesia for refugees is dire. Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. His refugee status prevents him from having the freedom to work, study or travel.
Given that Australia introduced a draconian refugee policy in 2013 and stopped resettling refugees from Indonesia in 2014 (the year Murtaza arrived), we are striving to get Murtaza sponsored under the Canadian G5 private sponsorship program. Your contribution will help him build a new life, to study and pursue his promising future as an artist. Murtaza will be an asset to his new country.
You can view his full story in this edition of the Archipelago. An online journal set up by another Australian refugee supporter Keiren Kresevic . https://www.thearchipelago.org/sangi-sabur
Why We Care
Nina Burridge is a Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. She first met Murtaza in Indonesia in 2016 during a visit to the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre, where she and colleagues from UTS were conducting teacher training programs for the volunteer teachers. She recognised his talent as an artist and has seen his artistic talent continue to develop over several return visits to the Refugee Learning Centres in Indonesia.
Prudence Bansemer is an International Studies student and has long been passionate about refugees. She met Murtaza back in 2017 at the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre where he was a volunteer teacher.
We were both struck by Murtaza’s intelligence, resilience and his artistic talent.
If you are like us and are wondering how you can have a tangible impact on the life of a refugee, then this is it! Please help us to raise the funds to get Murtaza safely to Canada.
How you can help
In order to submit the G5 application in Canada, the Canadian government requires there to be a bank account in the refugee’s name with enough money to survive on during their first year. The minimum set by Canadian immigration is CAD$16,500. These costs include:
· Shelter
· Food staples
· Startup costs.
· Household needs and weekly essentials costs such as electricity, water
· Furniture
· Clothing
We are aiming to raise $20,000 to also cover flight and visa costs. As soon as this money is collected, it will be held in a secure bank account managed by the accredited G5 community sponsors. When Murtaza arrives, the money will be disbursed under guidelines laid out by the Canadian government.
This opportunity will change Murtaza’s life forever, so we’d be grateful for donations- however big or small.
Thank you for your support. And please help spread the word by sharing this page!
This talented young artist’s family fled Afghanistan to live in Pakistan in the late 1990s. However, the rise of the Taliban and the increasing persecution of Hazara Shia Muslims even in Pakistan made the situation untenable for him. Having lost his father, he fled alone when he was just 16 years old to escape the violence perpetrated against his people. Since then, Murtaza has been stuck in Indonesia (for over 6 years now), and while he is registered with UNHCR, there is no resettlement in sight and he faces an uncertain future in limbo. The situation in Indonesia for refugees is dire. Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. His refugee status prevents him from having the freedom to work, study or travel.
Given that Australia introduced a draconian refugee policy in 2013 and stopped resettling refugees from Indonesia in 2014 (the year Murtaza arrived), we are striving to get Murtaza sponsored under the Canadian G5 private sponsorship program. Your contribution will help him build a new life, to study and pursue his promising future as an artist. Murtaza will be an asset to his new country.
You can view his full story in this edition of the Archipelago. An online journal set up by another Australian refugee supporter Keiren Kresevic . https://www.thearchipelago.org/sangi-sabur
Why We Care
Nina Burridge is a Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. She first met Murtaza in Indonesia in 2016 during a visit to the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre, where she and colleagues from UTS were conducting teacher training programs for the volunteer teachers. She recognised his talent as an artist and has seen his artistic talent continue to develop over several return visits to the Refugee Learning Centres in Indonesia.
Prudence Bansemer is an International Studies student and has long been passionate about refugees. She met Murtaza back in 2017 at the Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre where he was a volunteer teacher.
We were both struck by Murtaza’s intelligence, resilience and his artistic talent.
If you are like us and are wondering how you can have a tangible impact on the life of a refugee, then this is it! Please help us to raise the funds to get Murtaza safely to Canada.
How you can help
In order to submit the G5 application in Canada, the Canadian government requires there to be a bank account in the refugee’s name with enough money to survive on during their first year. The minimum set by Canadian immigration is CAD$16,500. These costs include:
· Shelter
· Food staples
· Startup costs.
· Household needs and weekly essentials costs such as electricity, water
· Furniture
· Clothing
We are aiming to raise $20,000 to also cover flight and visa costs. As soon as this money is collected, it will be held in a secure bank account managed by the accredited G5 community sponsors. When Murtaza arrives, the money will be disbursed under guidelines laid out by the Canadian government.
This opportunity will change Murtaza’s life forever, so we’d be grateful for donations- however big or small.
Thank you for your support. And please help spread the word by sharing this page!
Fundraising team (2)
Prudence Bansemer
Organizer
Clifton Hill VIC
Nina Burridge
Team member
