My name is Jessica Black. I have been friends with Jerome Rugaruza for the last six years. Jerome came to Newcastle as a refugee from the DR Congo and moved into the house opposite us in Carrington, Newcastle.
I am trying to raise the funds needed to bring Jerome's niece and nephew to Newcastle. They will come to Newcastle on a 117 - Humanitarian Visa for Orphans - Relative Reunion. They then become permanent residents.
Aline Munyurwe (16) and Fred Mandela (17) are orphans. They have spent their lives in and out of refugee camps. They currently live together in Bukavu, in South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their father was killed during conflict in 2001 and their mother has been missing since 2005.
Fred Mandela
The funds we will raise will cover -
Visas
Transport from the Congo to Nairobi
Airfares to Australia
Medical Check Up
Accommodation in Nairobi while being processed
Jerome is particuarly keen to get the kids out of the Congo as soon as he can. With the election campaign hotting up, conflict in the area is building.
Jerome and Elkie
I would like to help Jerome and his family be reunited. I can only imagine what it would be like to be separated from my family by war. This small act of kindness goes a long way to help Aline and Fred have a new life in Australia. 
Mugethe
Thank you,
Jess Black