Donation protected
Sama is a five-year old refugee from Afghanistan who urgently needs to be reunited with her mother. This past winter, I became friends with Sama and her father, Abdul, while working with refugees in Athens. After an arduous two-year journey, they are presently living in a temporary refugee shelter in Greece while awaiting asylum. This can be a lengthy, multi-year process.
Last year, while journeying to Europe, the family was separated when Sama's mother and older sister were placed in a refugee centre in Germany, while she, her father and older brother were settled in a refugee camp in Greece. Separations like these are a common, painful occurence at the borders. Nearly a year after this separation, Sama is still often inconsolable, missing her mother, crying nearly every day. Her father, Abdul, is a lovely, gentle man and is very stressed, seeing his daughter so distraught. Although they are able to speak through Skype, ultimately this only makes Sama even more upset and leaves them more desperate to be reunited.
Sama has packed her stuffy and some clothes into her little rollie suitcase, and every morning tells her father she is off to Germany. Both mother and father are very caring parents, and it breaks their hearts to see Sama in this condition. Because there are over two million names on the Greek roster of refugees seeking asylum and/or reunification, it will at the present rate be at least two years until they can be reunited, IF it can take place at all. To compound the situation, while I was there Abdul was diagnosed with a serious medical condition which requires him be hospitalized weekly, leaving Sama in the care of others while he is at the hospital and Sama's brother is at school. He is beside himself with worry for Sama.
There is, however, one way to speed up the reunification of Sama and her mother -- pay to obtain "expedited unaccompanied minor reunification papers" for Sama's travel to Germany. This involves hiring a lawyer, securing a seat on a special non-commercial chartered refugee flight, and fast-tracking the bureaucratic paperwork. The cost for this is €4000 ($4840 USD; $6203 CAD). If 200 people were to donate an average of $31CAD each (€20; $24USD), Sama and her mother could be reunited. Of course, donations of any amount at all are greatly appreciated.
I will personally insure that all funds raised go to the designated purpose, and will keep you all updated as to how the story of little Sama, and her family, unfolds. Should the funds raised not reach the target, I will make up the difference; should the goal be surpassed, all extra funds will be donated to the self-funded refugee housing centre where they live, City Plaza Athens.
Thank you so much for your support.
Last year, while journeying to Europe, the family was separated when Sama's mother and older sister were placed in a refugee centre in Germany, while she, her father and older brother were settled in a refugee camp in Greece. Separations like these are a common, painful occurence at the borders. Nearly a year after this separation, Sama is still often inconsolable, missing her mother, crying nearly every day. Her father, Abdul, is a lovely, gentle man and is very stressed, seeing his daughter so distraught. Although they are able to speak through Skype, ultimately this only makes Sama even more upset and leaves them more desperate to be reunited.
Sama has packed her stuffy and some clothes into her little rollie suitcase, and every morning tells her father she is off to Germany. Both mother and father are very caring parents, and it breaks their hearts to see Sama in this condition. Because there are over two million names on the Greek roster of refugees seeking asylum and/or reunification, it will at the present rate be at least two years until they can be reunited, IF it can take place at all. To compound the situation, while I was there Abdul was diagnosed with a serious medical condition which requires him be hospitalized weekly, leaving Sama in the care of others while he is at the hospital and Sama's brother is at school. He is beside himself with worry for Sama.
There is, however, one way to speed up the reunification of Sama and her mother -- pay to obtain "expedited unaccompanied minor reunification papers" for Sama's travel to Germany. This involves hiring a lawyer, securing a seat on a special non-commercial chartered refugee flight, and fast-tracking the bureaucratic paperwork. The cost for this is €4000 ($4840 USD; $6203 CAD). If 200 people were to donate an average of $31CAD each (€20; $24USD), Sama and her mother could be reunited. Of course, donations of any amount at all are greatly appreciated.
I will personally insure that all funds raised go to the designated purpose, and will keep you all updated as to how the story of little Sama, and her family, unfolds. Should the funds raised not reach the target, I will make up the difference; should the goal be surpassed, all extra funds will be donated to the self-funded refugee housing centre where they live, City Plaza Athens.
Thank you so much for your support.
Organizer
Linda Lynch
Organizer
West Kootenays , BC