You may remember that in June of 2022, we sponsored refugees from Afghanistan who were involved in Climate Action and Women’s Rights work in Afghanistan. One of those refugees was Kamila.
Kamila had only been in Canada for a matter of months when she joined CJS’s Refugee Sponsorship Group to bring her brother, Ali, to Saskatoon.
Ali escaped Afghanistan in the fall of 2021, just after his 17th birthday. He has no legal status in the country where he currently resides and is under threat of deportation back to Afghanistan. Because of the threats he faces in his home country, returning there is unthinkable. Ali is determined to join his sister and hopes to study computer science and return to competitive tae kwon do when he settles in Saskatoon.
In late 2022, the sponsorship group aimed to raise $22,500 to bring these siblings together. Thanks to the generous support of community members, the sponsorship group reached this goal in a matter of weeks!
With the financial side of the sponsorship taken care of, all we can do now is wait for government to do its thing. Reuniting Kamila and Ali will bring them both comfort, a sense of safety, and the hope and possibility they need to re-envision their futures here in Canada. We sincerely thank everyone who has played a part in this effort.