Newly Widowed Mother of 3 & Refugee
Donation protected
*Please read the latest update for the most up-to-date information on the family's situation.*
Li Ling arrived in the US as a refugee in March of 2015. On March 23, 2018, Li Ling's husband, Naing Mana, was killed in a terrible industrial accident while he was at work. Li Ling has been left behind to raise their three young children on her own.
As a teenager, Li Ling was forced to flee her home in the mountains of Burma/Myanmar. Li Ling is from a small, isolated Daai Chin tribe village, and grew up speaking only her tribal language. She did not learn Burmese, the official language of her country. After leaving Burma, Li Ling spent several years in harsh conditions in Malaysia, where she married fellow Daai refugee Naing Mana. Together with their two young children, they were granted refugee status, and came to Colorado to start a new life.
Naing Mana, who knew some English, got a job and started working hard to provide for his family. He worked doing hard physical labor and frequently faced racism in the workplace. But he kept going for his wife and (now three) children. He had dreams of moving the family out of their tiny one bedroom apartment and buying a home. But on March 23, 2018, just three years after they'd arrived in the US, a tragedy occurred. Naing Mana was killed in an accident at a new job he'd taken at a metal processing plant.
Li Ling, who has been a stay-at-home mom since arriving in the US, speaks very little English. I have been her English tutor (through the Colorado Refugee English as a Second Language Program) since shortly after she arrived here, but she was illiterate in her first language, and the going has been slow. Naing Mana provided the family's income, translated for Li Ling, took care of all financial and bureaucratic matters and was the only one with a driver's license.
Needless to say, there are tough times ahead for Li Ling and the three children. She is trying to file for worker's comp., but that will take time. I would like to raise a few thousand dollars for the family, to ease their burden just a bit, if only financially. All donations will be withdrawn by me and given directly to Li Ling as a check, to help cover the family's living expenses. (The goal does not have to be met for your donation to make it to the family. Every donation matters!)
Thank you for reading, and even if you can't donate right now, you can still help by sharing. Please share anywhere you can!
Li Ling arrived in the US as a refugee in March of 2015. On March 23, 2018, Li Ling's husband, Naing Mana, was killed in a terrible industrial accident while he was at work. Li Ling has been left behind to raise their three young children on her own.
As a teenager, Li Ling was forced to flee her home in the mountains of Burma/Myanmar. Li Ling is from a small, isolated Daai Chin tribe village, and grew up speaking only her tribal language. She did not learn Burmese, the official language of her country. After leaving Burma, Li Ling spent several years in harsh conditions in Malaysia, where she married fellow Daai refugee Naing Mana. Together with their two young children, they were granted refugee status, and came to Colorado to start a new life.
Naing Mana, who knew some English, got a job and started working hard to provide for his family. He worked doing hard physical labor and frequently faced racism in the workplace. But he kept going for his wife and (now three) children. He had dreams of moving the family out of their tiny one bedroom apartment and buying a home. But on March 23, 2018, just three years after they'd arrived in the US, a tragedy occurred. Naing Mana was killed in an accident at a new job he'd taken at a metal processing plant.
Li Ling, who has been a stay-at-home mom since arriving in the US, speaks very little English. I have been her English tutor (through the Colorado Refugee English as a Second Language Program) since shortly after she arrived here, but she was illiterate in her first language, and the going has been slow. Naing Mana provided the family's income, translated for Li Ling, took care of all financial and bureaucratic matters and was the only one with a driver's license.
Needless to say, there are tough times ahead for Li Ling and the three children. She is trying to file for worker's comp., but that will take time. I would like to raise a few thousand dollars for the family, to ease their burden just a bit, if only financially. All donations will be withdrawn by me and given directly to Li Ling as a check, to help cover the family's living expenses. (The goal does not have to be met for your donation to make it to the family. Every donation matters!)
Thank you for reading, and even if you can't donate right now, you can still help by sharing. Please share anywhere you can!
Organizer
Sarah Gee
Organizer
Aurora, CO
