Help bring mama Irene's grandchildren to Canada

Urgent need: Help bring Irene Tshiguta's 6 grandchildren to Canada through a family sponsorship to Canada program, by helping her raise the last $20,000 needed for resettlement costs (deadline February, 15, 2023).

You might recognize Irene from Carleton University where, with her ever-present kind-hearted smile and chatty nature, she has worked as a cleaner for over a decade.

But you might not know her full story - raising a family in the Democratic Republic of Congo, losing her loving husband in the night to armed rebels, fleeing across Africa to find safety for her children, and ultimately landing in Ottawa in 2006 to begin a new chapter.

In 2020, tragedy struck again as Irene's eldest daughter Yolande, who was already a widow, passed away leaving her 6 children without parents, and currently living with their Aunt in Zambia.

Irene needs your help to raise the last $20,000 to finally be reunited with her grandchildren Mick, Jael, Benefi, Raphael, Joy and Praise, so that they can live a life of opportunity, and move past the tragedies which have deeply affected their young lives.

Your donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference in the lives of these children.

If in the worst-case scenario, they are unable to come to Canada, all funds raised will go towards supporting the upbringing of her grandchildren in Africa. This is their last chance to be reuinited with Irene in Ottawa - if this fails it is unlikely that they will ever be approved to come to Canada.

(Two of Irene's grandchildren in Zambia)

About Irene and this process:

Irene has been trying to bring her Grandchildren to Canada for over 5 years. Initially, the application included her daughter, Yolande, but when she sadly passed away in 2020, the application needed ot be changed.

The six grandchildren, Mick, Jael, Benefi, Raphael, Joy and Praise are ready to come to Canada. the eldest four have already completed high school, with fluent french language skills, and basic English.

Irene is employed full time as a cleaner at Carleton University, and already sends money every month from her salary to support the grandchildren in Zambia.

This is a family sponsorship application based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. The legal aspects of this process are being handled the Corporate Immigration Law Firm (CILF) based at 320 March Road Kanata.

The $35,000 goal amount is based on the Sponsorship Cost Table for Blended Visa Office-referred Refugees for 6 people. You can read more about this here.

(Irene with members of CU Smile)

About Irene's support network:

Irene has an incredible network of support, ranging from her Church and Prayer group in Ottawa, to the CU smile organization at Carleton University.

Over 10 people have signed letters of support stating they will be able to assist Irene in ressetling her grandchildren when they arrive in Ottawa.

About the organizer of this fundraiser:

My name is Tristan Oliff, I met Irene in 2018 while at Carleton University, and through my partner who had gotten to know her through the International Student Services Office. Irene and I bonded over our shared African roots, often greeting and speaking to each other in Swahili.

Irene has become like a family member to us, and when she reached out to with this emergency, we decided to come together, along with organizations like CU Smile, in order to do everything possible to help get Irene's grandchildren to Canada - including setting up this fundraiser.

Irene is connected to this Gofundme campaign as the beneficiary, with all donations made being sent directly to the savings account she has created for to help ressetle her grandchildren when, with your help, they will arrive in Canada.