Here's a 'fairy-tale' ending
to a refugee story my daughter Bethany has been involved with for over 2
years. It's what personal connection, prayer, persistence and the
Christian community can accomplish in the lives of a New Canadian.
These are her words to the many believers she had involved in this
family's journey...
In September 2011 I sent out a call asking for help for my friend Shukri. It’s been a long journey for Shukri since she left her home in Somalia over 10 years ago with her five kids. After living as an alien in Syria for 4 years, Shukri was accepted for permanent residence in Canada under humanitarian grounds. While in Syria, Shukri’s husband, Ahmed, continued to travel to take day jobs here and there and send additional support to his family. Unfortunately, Ahmed was not present for Shukri and her kids’ transfer to Canada. Since February 2010 Shukri has been working hard as a single mother to support her family in their new safe and free life in Canada.
Through the One Year Window program, government assisted refugees in Canada can apply to sponsor their family members to reunite with them in Canada. Although Shukri applied under this category for her husband, she has faced a multitude of barriers that have devastated the usual process. Ahmed had taken asylum in a country not catered to refugee claimants, with little-to-no rights for those waiting. In addition, Shukri and her husband did not take any physical proof of their marriage with them as they fled Somalia – this put the case on the back burner until any proof could be given.
In August 2011 Shukri received a letter from the Embassy in Dubai advising that she and her children take a DNA test as proof that Ahmed is the father of her children or else the case would be dropped. In order to have this test done and sent to Dubai, Shukri would have to pay over $1,000. This is just under two months income for the single mother on income support. After getting over the initial shock of being questioned and having to explain this situation to her children, Shukri started saving. With her current debt of $7,000 for her family’s flights from Syria, and the time frame it would take for her to gather this amount of money, (in addition to a CRA mix up at this exact time which held back her child tax benefits) I sent out a call for prayer and financial support. I received an overwhelming response of words of encouragement and over $3,700. With this help, we were able to begin the process of gathering the last shred of proof the Immigration Officers needed, with the additional financial support going to pay off Shukri’s travel loan.
The DNA tests came back 99.9% positive that Ahmed was the father of Shukri’s children. And with the final proof sent to the Embassy we waited... and waited... and waited... In the meantime Shukri would call me almost every week asking for help to get an update on her husband’s situation. She would go to the Harry Hay’s building and wait in line ups only to be sent away. We called immigration offices in Canada, the US, and Dubai, all with no response. Although Shukri often became discouraged, seeing the husbands and family members of her friends who had arrived in Canada after her reunite with her family – she never lost hope.
A week ago I received a call from Shukri. She was very excited that she had just passed her learners exam, meaning she was on her way to independence from hitching rides from other people. She’s looking for a reliable van that can fit her family – oh and her husband is coming to Canada!!!! All the papers have been finalized and Ahmed has been accepted as a permanent resident and given a plane ticket to meet his family (for the first time in over 7 years). He arrives tonight (he arrived July 10th!) and I cannot explain how excited and nervous I am. Thank you for taking Shukri’s story to heart and supporting her in this process. Although you may not have met her, you have made a world of difference for her and her five children. Please continue to pray as Shukri’s family is reunited this week. Although the hardest part is by far over, this family has to now redefine its dynamic and will no doubt go through rough patches as they continue to get on their feet in Canada. But now, with your help, they can do this together!
- Thank you!!
In September 2011 I sent out a call asking for help for my friend Shukri. It’s been a long journey for Shukri since she left her home in Somalia over 10 years ago with her five kids. After living as an alien in Syria for 4 years, Shukri was accepted for permanent residence in Canada under humanitarian grounds. While in Syria, Shukri’s husband, Ahmed, continued to travel to take day jobs here and there and send additional support to his family. Unfortunately, Ahmed was not present for Shukri and her kids’ transfer to Canada. Since February 2010 Shukri has been working hard as a single mother to support her family in their new safe and free life in Canada.
Through the One Year Window program, government assisted refugees in Canada can apply to sponsor their family members to reunite with them in Canada. Although Shukri applied under this category for her husband, she has faced a multitude of barriers that have devastated the usual process. Ahmed had taken asylum in a country not catered to refugee claimants, with little-to-no rights for those waiting. In addition, Shukri and her husband did not take any physical proof of their marriage with them as they fled Somalia – this put the case on the back burner until any proof could be given.
In August 2011 Shukri received a letter from the Embassy in Dubai advising that she and her children take a DNA test as proof that Ahmed is the father of her children or else the case would be dropped. In order to have this test done and sent to Dubai, Shukri would have to pay over $1,000. This is just under two months income for the single mother on income support. After getting over the initial shock of being questioned and having to explain this situation to her children, Shukri started saving. With her current debt of $7,000 for her family’s flights from Syria, and the time frame it would take for her to gather this amount of money, (in addition to a CRA mix up at this exact time which held back her child tax benefits) I sent out a call for prayer and financial support. I received an overwhelming response of words of encouragement and over $3,700. With this help, we were able to begin the process of gathering the last shred of proof the Immigration Officers needed, with the additional financial support going to pay off Shukri’s travel loan.
The DNA tests came back 99.9% positive that Ahmed was the father of Shukri’s children. And with the final proof sent to the Embassy we waited... and waited... and waited... In the meantime Shukri would call me almost every week asking for help to get an update on her husband’s situation. She would go to the Harry Hay’s building and wait in line ups only to be sent away. We called immigration offices in Canada, the US, and Dubai, all with no response. Although Shukri often became discouraged, seeing the husbands and family members of her friends who had arrived in Canada after her reunite with her family – she never lost hope.
A week ago I received a call from Shukri. She was very excited that she had just passed her learners exam, meaning she was on her way to independence from hitching rides from other people. She’s looking for a reliable van that can fit her family – oh and her husband is coming to Canada!!!! All the papers have been finalized and Ahmed has been accepted as a permanent resident and given a plane ticket to meet his family (for the first time in over 7 years). He arrives tonight (he arrived July 10th!) and I cannot explain how excited and nervous I am. Thank you for taking Shukri’s story to heart and supporting her in this process. Although you may not have met her, you have made a world of difference for her and her five children. Please continue to pray as Shukri’s family is reunited this week. Although the hardest part is by far over, this family has to now redefine its dynamic and will no doubt go through rough patches as they continue to get on their feet in Canada. But now, with your help, they can do this together!
- Thank you!!
