Jorge Pupo Caraballo

Meet Inima Guerra and Jorge Luis Pupo Carballo and their two kids, Lucas (5) and Matthew (3 months). The family has been thriving in Canada since 2017, but recently their lives have been unexpectedly upended because of an issue with Jorge’s work permit. That means neither Jorge nor Inima can work and the family needs the community’s help while their immigration lawyer responds.

About the family

Jorge and Inima married in 2014 in Cuba and moved to Canada in 2017 when Jorge was offered a coaching job with Diving Canada. A former Olympian, he was hired because of his amazing resume – he competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Jorge first coached in Thunder Bay and now is the head coach at the Forest City Diving Club (FCDC) in London, Ont.

The family is applying for permanent residency, a step on their ultimate dream of becoming Canadian citizens. They attend Spanish-language services at West Park Church, are active in their local community and the diving community across Canada. At West Park, Jorge and Inima have worked on the kitchen team, cooking meals and cleaning dishes for special events and celebrations, as well as helping sort and package donations being sent to underprivileged families.

Jorge has dedicated the better part of his life to diving. As head coach at FCDC, his day starts early and ends late. He meets divers at 6:30 a.m. for training, mentoring athletes of all ages qualifying for national and international competitions. He’s doing the same thing in the afternoons and evenings, helping divers as young as eight achieve their personal best.

Lucas was born in 2019 and is in kindergarten. He’s a super active kid who loves playing Minecraft and Pokemon. He’s an upbeat and smiley boy with lots of energy who became a proud big brother in November 2024, when the family welcomed its fourth member, Matthew.

Jorge and Inima do their best to support their families in Cuba, where the political and economic situation remains precarious. When they get their permanent residency, Inima wants to enroll in Fanshawe College’s nursing or personal support worker program. She worked right up to Matthew’s birth in November and is on maternity leave, however unable to receive employment insurance benefits.

The family is now without any income while they wait for their appeal to get processed.

The money raised will go toward:

Basic needs, such as food, diapers, paying the mortgage, etc.

Paying for a lawyer who is working on the work permit appeal and permanent residency application.

Jorge, Inima, Lucas and Matthew are the kind of wonderful, hard-working and giving people we are lucky to have in our community, and in Canada. Jorge is an inspiring, supportive and beloved head coach. He’s vital to our diving team and we can’t wait to have him back on the pool deck.

Thank you for your donation. Every little bit helps — and means Jorge and Inima and the kids will have one less thing to worry about as they navigate Canada’s immigration system.