Name: “Hamid”
Place of Origin: Jaghori, Afghanistan
Current Location: Refugee Camp in Indonesia
Risks: Arrest and Deportation; Risk of death if he is returned to Afghanistan.
Needed: Five people to serve as sponsors for his first year of life in Canada.
Meet "Hamid", a Hazara man in his early twenties who escaped the horrors of the Taliban only to be trapped in miserable conditions in an Indonesian refugee camp. His extended family in the US has gathered the funds to sponsor him to Canada, but he can't submit the application until he finds volunteers willing to help him settle into his new life in Canada. That's where you can help!
His Story
Hamid (not his real name) is a Hazara, an ethnic and religious minority in Afghanistan that is constantly targeted for kidnappings and murders by the Taliban (https://www.refworld.org/docid/49749d693d.html). Hamid's father died when he was a young boy, and his mother died when he was only 10, leaving him an orphan. Family members took him in but did not allow him to attend school, so from that young age he began working as a student mechanic.
One day as he was fixing a car, Hamid found weapons in the trunk and reported it to police. Unfortunately for Hamid, the owners of the car turned out to be Taliban. The Taliban targeted Hamid, kidnapping him, driving him to a house out of town, and torturing him. During the night Hamid managed to escape, and found a car to take him to Kabul. He called his uncle, who arranged for him to flee Afghanistan with the hope of making it to a safe country like Australia.
Life as a Refugee
Hamid fled through Malaysia to Indonesia, on the route that many asylum seekers take when seeking to reach safety in Australia. But because of policies designed to turn back asylum seekers, thousands of refugees are stranded in Indonesia, waiting years to be resettled. Refugees have no legal right to work or receive an education in Indonesia, and the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration no longer offer assistance.(https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/07/16/refugees-need-place-to-sleep-opportunity-to-work.html)
When he arrived in Indonesia, Hamid registered with the UNHCR and was recognized as a legitimate refugee. Despite this, he has been in limbo, living in crowded, unsanitary conditions. Refugees are threatened with detention and deportation for any infraction of rules, and are not protected by Indonesian law.(https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/prison-growing-despair-refugees-stuck-indonesia-190225055714272.html)
Finding a Community and Finding Faith
One thing that has given Hamid comfort in these difficult conditions is his Christian faith. Hamid was raised as a Muslim, but when he came to Indonesia, he became friends with a Christian, who introduced Hamid to his church. Hamid began studying the Bible every day, and eventually decided that he wanted to become a Christian. As Hamid says,
"The Bible has taught me how to love other people, how to forgive my enemies, and how to accept differences between cultures respectfully".
Hamid is an active member of his church community, serving on the media team, and takes comfort from friendships with his church friends and his deep faith.
What We Can Do to Help
Hamid's extended family who live in the United States have raised the full amount of funding ($18,000 CAD) needed to sponsor a refugee to come to Canada. This money is being held in trust by volunteer Laura Beth Bugg, who lives in Toronto and is part of Northern Lights Canada: Guiding Refugees to Toronto, a private sponsorship facilitation group.
Hamid is a beautiful person, who is eager to begin a new life in Canada, continue his career as a mechanic, be part of a Christian community, and one day start a family of his own.
If you or someone you know would like to be part of Hamid's resettlement team, please contact Toronto volunteer Laura Beth Bugg at laura.bugg@gmail.com. She knows Hamid and his pastors in Indonesia and is happy to answer any questions and make introductions.
Hamid's extended family who live in the United States have raised the full amount of funding ($18,000 CAD) needed to sponsor a refugee to come to Canada. This money is being held in trust by volunteer Laura Beth Bugg, who lives in Toronto and is part of Northern Lights Canada: Guiding Refugees to Toronto, a private sponsorship facilitation group.
Before Hamid can submit an application, we need to find five caring people who will agree to help Hamid settle into his life in Canada. These people will:
* welcome Hamid when he arrives
* help him to find appropriate rental housing (using the funds that have already been raised)
* help him to source furnishings and housewares* help him to register for healthcare, doctors, dentist* help him to register for language classes or education
* help him to source furnishings and housewares* help him to register for healthcare, doctors, dentist* help him to register for language classes or education
* provide social and emotional support as needed for the first year
Hamid is a beautiful person, who is eager to begin a new life in Canada, continue his career as a mechanic, be part of a Christian community, and one day start a family of his own.
If you or someone you know would like to be part of Hamid's resettlement team, please contact Toronto volunteer Laura Beth Bugg at laura.bugg@gmail.com. She knows Hamid and his pastors in Indonesia and is happy to answer any questions and make introductions.
