Update to Nazia's Story

Nazia and her family lost their home last night to a terrible fire. She, her husband, and their three daughters escaped safely, thankfully. But they have lost everything. Brockton Firefighters believe it may have been fireworks that caused the blaze.

We are hoping that your generous hearts could donate something more to this family that has endured so much this year. We thank you for your generosity and compassion.

Nazia, a former teacher from Cape Verde, is a loving mother of three children, ages 20, 14 and 7. She came to the United States four years ago motivated in large part by the need to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for her daughter with down syndrome. She knew the schools in the US had good programs for children with special needs. She and her husband have been working full time as well as taking English classes to improve their English skills. She took advantage of an opportunity for former teachers to work in the local public schools until that program was defunded by the recent administration. In addition to all the stresses of moving and adjusting to life in the US, she faced a diagnosis of cancer and went through treatment over the past couple years. Life has not been easy but Nazia has done a remarkable job balancing her roles as mother and advocate for a special needs daughter while holding down a full-time job and attending language class. Nazia is now faced with applying for asylum to continue to protect her daughter in the U.S. to get the care and education she can acquire only here. Her legal fees are steep. Please, if you can, contribute to this wonderful woman's determination to stay in the country to help her daughter. We would greatly appreciate it.