Dear friends and kind-hearted donors,

My name is Hamidah Muhammad Amin. I am a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar. Over one million of my people have been forced to flee Myanmar to other countries due to the years-long ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Rohingya. My immediate family (myself, my husband and 2 young children) fled to Malaysia in the early 2010’s and began the resettlement process with the UN and the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). We finally received permission to come to the US and arrived in Chicago in 2018.

Most Rohingya have fled to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh which has become the largest refugee settlement in the world. This is where the rest of my family – my 2 oldest children, my parents, siblings and extended family currently reside. I am now hoping with your help, to bring several of my family members including my elderly father, brother, his wife and one-year old son, to live with us in Chicago.

In Cox’s Bazar, my family live in poverty and constant fear as abductions, kidnappings, and extortion have become major risks for them daily. Their future is uncertain as they lack basic human rights, including protection, education, medical treatment, and more. Tragically, my mother died in the refugee camp in May 2024 due to inadequate medical treatment, which only heightens my concern for my father's health at his elderly age.

We were resettled in the US with the help of the UN, the US government, a Chicago refugee resettlement organization and the generosity of a local synagogue. As soon as we arrived in Chicago, we applied to the USCIS to bring our son and daughter to the US and their applications are still pending.

In 2023, the State Department started a program called the Welcome Corps. Refugees seeking resettlement receive assistance through the USRAP and Welcome Corps sponsors. It allows American citizens to sponsor refugees and provide them with the necessary tools to transition to life here. Because I am now a US citizen, I can sponsor my family’s resettlement through the Welcome Corps. They will still need to be approved for resettlement through USRAP.

One of the requirements for the Welcome Corps program is that sponsors are required to raise funds as part of the application process. Before I can proceed with the Welcome Corps application, I need to raise at least $15,000 USD to prove that I have the financial resources to provide for them.

Therefore, I am reaching out to you for support. Your generous donation, no matter the amount, will bring me one step closer to reuniting with my family in Chicago, ensure their safety, and allow them to begin to rebuild their lives and overcome the trauma of what they’ve endured. I believe that with your help, they can make our collective dreams a reality. My family and I will remain deeply grateful for your support and kindness. Your assistance not only provides us with the means to relocate them but also gives them hope for a brighter future.

Please share my story with your friends and family. Every bit of support counts. Thank you for being a part of this significant journey of ours.

Sincerely, Hamidah Muhammad Amin