Hello friends,

 

Last year we conducted an end-of-year fundraiser for Joseph, an international student who lives in the Ottawa area. Joseph is a university student working to complete a degree in social work.

 

This winter, Joseph faces the same difficult, lonely predicament: if Joseph doesn’t raise enough money to cover the costs of tuition for the winter semester, he faces the threat of deportation to the Ivory Coast, a country he fled from political unrest and violence. His mother, Esther, has done everything she can to secure the funds but has been unable to do so thus far. So she is asking for your generosity today.

 

The Canadian university system has long charged exorbitant fees to international students, often to make up for consistent shortfalls in government funding for universities. Joseph and his mother need $7,250 to cover tuition expenses for the upcoming semester and face a monthly rent of $1,150 plus monthly food and transportation costs of $200. Right now, Joseph has to choose between paying tuition fees and buying food to eat.

From an early age, Joseph was exposed to violence due to political unrest in the Ivory Coast. This trauma has followed him much of his life. Canada has allowed him a stability that has given him a chance to heal. If he were to be forced to leave, he would lose all the progress that he has made.

40% of the country currently lives in poverty. Several Canadian mining companies like Auxico Resources and Sama Resources Inc. operate in the Ivory Coast, but their profits do not make it to the Ivorian people.

 

Through your generosity a year ago, we were able to raise enough money to keep Joseph in Canada.

Let’s keep him here again this year. No one should be deported for want of tuition money. No one should ever be deported.