Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted people of Canada,

I want to share the courageous story of my cousin Harold, his wife Santa and their daughter Alexa. This is a synopsis of their bold decision to leave Cuba and move to Canada. Additionally, we provide reasoning as to why we need financial assistance, which includes paying for the legal fees to complete their Refugee application. Unfortunately, because Harold is a working refugee claimant, he is not provided with any government funding or assistance in obtaining legal council, which is required when making refugee claims for him and his family.

This journey started two years ago when Harold was being prosecuted by the Cuban government for attending basic human rights rallies in Cuba. As Canadians we consider Cuba an amazing and beautiful place to visit, however, the harsh reality of their economy and political structure is very different for citizens. As a communist country citizens are oppressed from expressing their opinions and their access to information is greatly censored. There are times that the grocery stores do not have essential goods. The volatility of prices on items like a carton of eggs can exceed their weekly household income. Gas shortages, week long electrical blackouts and water shortages are a common occurrence. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation became worse, and Harold joined his friends and families to rally in the streets, and stand up for his people. This expression of disagreement with the government eventually led to the detainment of some of his close friends and forced him to make the hardest decision of his life; leave his country, his mother, his wife and child, and try make it to his family in Canada.

For Cuban citizens, leaving Cuba is not as easy as buying a plane ticket. Harold worked hard to save his money, eventually slipping past the Cuban government, and make his way to Venezuela where he began the 9,000 kilometer journey to Sydenham, ON. Harold hiked, slept in jungles on the ground, took buses, slipped past border patrol and risked his life working with groups of people to make it to Mexico. Once there he employed Coyotes to get him across the border to the US so he could declare refugee status. He worked in the United States until he had enough money to take another risk, travelling from Florida to Buffalo and presenting himself to the Canadian border, claiming refugee status. The Canadian government allowed him to enter the country, and travel to his new home with his uncle Victor in Sydenham. Harold requested a work visa, to begin work initially for a catering company, and is now the head chef at Lenny's Diner in Sydenham, ON. During his time in Canada, he has worked hard to have a stable job, an apartment, pays his taxes, helps out his neighbours with odd jobs and become a contributing member of the community.

Harold has had to claim Refugee status, meaning that he had to seek legal council to help him submit forms. He has now been waiting over a year to get a trial date. While he was waiting, conditions in Cuba worsened. He saved money, and borrowed the last of what he needed to pay for his wife and six year old daughter to take the dangerous trip to Canada themselves. Santa and Alexa, completed the cross-continent journey to also find themselves being granted access to Canada.

Having our family reunited is a dream come true and now they are taking all the necessary steps to make it permanent. Canada represents a chance for Harold and his family to live in a safe, stable environment where Alexa can grow up with opportunities her parents could only dream of.

This is where your generosity can make an incredible difference. We are raising $20,000 to support Harold, Santa, and Alexa in this critical transition. Every dollar will go directly toward their legal fees for obtaining Canadian residency status and towards the repayment of debts accumulated from their necessary journey. The legal aspect is incredibly important as they cannot return to Cuba without prosecution and we are doing everything possible to have proper legal representation. Immigration lawyers we are working with are going to be costing a minimum of $15,000. Harold and his family have been trying to work hard to save for lawyers fees. Harold and Santa are devoted parents who are determined to contribute to their new community. Harold is an excellent chef and has already been an active and engaged member of Sydenham Village. By helping them now, you’re giving a family the foundation they need to thrive.

Your support, no matter the size, will mean the world to them. Even sharing this page with your network can help us reach our goal.

Thank you for taking the time to read their story and for considering helping a family in need. Together, we can help Harold, Santa, and Alexa start the next chapter of their lives filled with opportunity, safety, and hope.

With gratitude,

The Myles-Gonzalez Family