Name: Jumah Noori

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, basic computer skills.

Risk: At risk of being tortured and killed by the Taliban if returned home.

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Jumah’s life was in danger because he fell in love with a Pashtun girl whose cousin was a member of the Taliban. He was in hiding for a few months, but when he realized that the Taliban would never stop searching for him and they would capture and kill him anytime, Jumah fled to Indonesia by boat in 2014.

Despite spending more than 4 years inside a detention centre and living in limbo since 2014, Jumah has been giving his best to learn graphic design and other computer skills.

He dreams to become a graphic designer one day and it is only possible if he finds a group of friends who can help him resettle in Canada.

Love Story

Jumah Noori was born in January 1988 in a village in Qarabagh district in Ghazni province in Afghanistan.

He fell in love with a Pashtun girl named Torpakai. Torpakai’s cousin was a member of the Taliban. They both knew that Torpakai’s family would never accept their relationship, so they decided to escape and then marry. On October 10, 2013, Jumah and Torpakai escaped but unfortunately, they were being chased and Torpakai could not escape with Jumah. The Taliban then went to Jumah’s home to capture him. They did not find him there but they killed his father. Jumah was hidden somewhere in Jaghori and two days later, he went to Nawor, Ghazni where his cousin brought his family too. In order to save his and his family’s life, he married a Hazara girl so that Torpakai’s family would not target him anymore. But he was wrong.

Leaving His Country

After a few days, Jumah realized that the Taliban were still searching for him to arrest and kill him. His life was in danger and he was compelled to leave Afghanistan to save his life.

“I had to leave my family while my wife was pregnant. This was one of the hardest decisions I had to take in my life.”

Jumah went to Kabul where he arranged for a people smuggler, and on November 17, 2013, he flew to New Delhi, India. From there, he went to Malaysia by plane and then on to Indonesia by boat in February 2014.

Life in The Detention Centre

After registering himself with the UNHCR, Jumah stayed in Bogor for a few months. Due to not having the right to work or way to support himself in Indonesia, he went to Manado Immigration Centre to ask for assistance.

On May 23, 2014, he was transferred to a detention centre in Manado. After almost 4 years, he was transferred to another detention centre in Makassar on January 9, 2018 where he was detained for 2 months. On March 18, 2018, he received his freedom and was transferred to a community house in Makassar. Since then, he has been living there.

His Life Now

Jumah has been busy learning English and computer programs like, video editing, Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop and a number of other computer programs.

“I dream to be a graphic designer in the future.”

No Choice Left

Jumah has been living in limbo for almost 9 years, and he has to wait for an uncertain time. He has no choice because he cannot return to Afghanistan nor he can live his life in Indonesia because he is not allowed to study, work, drive and travel to another city.

“I have not met my son Ehsan yet. I believe some kind friends can help me come to Canada where I can support my family and meet my son one day.”

As a UNHCR refugee, Jumah Noori is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. He needs a group of five Canadian friends to support him.

To help support Jumah as a sponsor, please contact Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Jumah directly on Facebook - or by email: jumah.noori@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +62 89522464835

Reach out and discover how wonderful it is to privately sponsor a good person to start a new life – with your help – in Canada!

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