Help SMR with his travel to Canada

SMR is an LGBTQ+ immigrant from Afghanistan in Turkey. He's a social worker, researcher, and activist working with refugees in Turkey. Afghan migrants in Turkey face growing legal, economic, and social uncertainty alongside worsening public image; they are unsure what will happen to their residence permit, work, and social life. In such conditions, SMR can move to Canada and start his graduate studies. However, he needs to fund his travel expenses. Your donation can help him with his trip to Canada to begin his dream of pursuing an MA in social sciences in a safe environment.

More about SMR:

SMR is an Afghan LGBTQ+ immigrant who has faced unique and complex challenges in his journey to build a new life for himself. In Afghanistan, being LGBTQ+ is not only taboo but can also lead to severe legal consequences and social exclusion and is punishable by death. SMR was forced to leave his home country and seek refuge in Turkey, where he faced a new set of challenges. As an Afghan, he was already part of a marginalized group in Turkey.

Despite these challenges, SMR refused to give up on his dreams and worked hard to excel academically. His passion for social justice and community building extends far beyond his personal journey as an LGBTQ+ immigrant. he has been an active community member, working tirelessly to support and empower other refugees and immigrants in Turkey, particularly those who are LGBTQ+.

Recently, SMR received some exciting news: he has been accepted into a master’s degree program in Canada! This is a life-changing opportunity for him, as it will allow him to pursue his academic goals further and provide him with a path toward a better future. However, as an immigrant, he faces significant financial barriers to realizing his dream. He needs support to cover the costs of visa applications, travel expenses, and other associated expenses.

More about me:

Hi! I am Abu Fakhri. I'm a doctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University in the field of forced migration and refugee studies. For my doctoral project, I conducted field research among Afghan migrants in Turkey. SMR was one of the first people I met in the field. He became one of the key informants in my research ad and a dear friend for life. Afghans experience shrinking conditions in Turkey marked by increasing anti-immigrant sentiment and legal precarity where even those Afghans on legal bases (study permit, short residence permit) are unsure if they can stay another year. I’m so glad that there is now an opportunity where he can further pursue his dreams, this time in a safe environment.

Your donation can help make his dream of pursuing his academic goal a reality. The target money directly funds SMR's flight and travel costs to Canada, all study permit and visa expenses (he needs to provide evidence of finanical support so he can obtain his study permit), and accomdation for his first few months in Canada. With your support, he can overcome financial barriers and begin his journey toward a brighter future. Your donation can help him take the first step toward a successful and fulfilling career where he can use his education and experience to impact the world positively.

Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or sexual orientation, is accepted, valued, and safe.

Note: Names have been altered due to security reasons! For the same reasons, we could not include photos showing SMR’s face.