After a devastating miss at getting Afghan refugee Fatima to America before the US citizen sponsorship program was suspended in January of 2025, we are thrilled to have found a church and lovely community of women who have agreed to sponsor Fatima to move to Ottawa.

The program is very much like the one we hoped to sponsor here, and like Welcome Corps in America (RIP), sponsorship requires an upfront commitment of money so that the people who assume this responsibility have the financial resources to execute on everything in the contract, including a year of rent, food, all medical enrollment, help with university enrollment, clothing, enrichment and more. The church is contributing $6,000, which is very generous considering we promised to raise it all if they would sponsor Fatima. We must raise the remaining $17,000.

If you contribute after we've reached $17,000, we will add it to Fatima's allowance in Canada, will send it to her now to cover her cost of living until she arrives, or she will use it to support her family here in America who is thriving but living just above the poverty line.

Our neighbor in Chevy Chase DC, Lydia Weiss, served as the American citizen refugee sponsor for Fatima and is now coordinating with the diocese in Ottawa. Donations for Fatima will be managed by fellow neighbor, Laura Hopman, who will then wire funds directly to the diocese.