Name: Adam, Sophie, Ava (9) & Hanna (7) *names changed for their safety

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, experienced and skillful constructor

FULLY FUNDED

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Adam's life was in danger. After being wrongfully beaten and captured by the Taliban, he survived through a daring escape. But they now knew his name and were hunting for him. To keep himself and his young family safe, Adam had to run. His wife and daughter moved into hiding. He fled to Indonesia by boat to save his life in 2014.

He spent 3 and a half years inside a detention centre. Life inside the centre was bleak, but Adam focused on learning English and computer skills to spend his time in positive ways. Adam has been very worried for his family who remain in danger in Afghanistan. Under the Taliban rule, Adam's daughters, Ava and Hanna, can't go to school and his wife, Sophie, must avoid leaving the house. All 4 of the family can be reunited in Canada through private sponsorship. They have a donor - they just need is to find a group of 5 Canadian friends who can help them come to Canada where he can reunite with his family one day and live in peace.

Love and Marriage

Adam was born in 1985 in a village in a Hazara region Afghanistan. He could continue his education only till secondary because he was the eldest son, so he had to work to support his family. Sophie grew up in a nearby village. They fell in love and were married in 2011.

"I was in love with her because she is honest and kind."

Adam owned a store and a truck to support his young family. They were blessed with their first child, Ava, in 2013. They were excited that Sophie was expecting again - little did he know that he would not be able to hold his second daughter when she entered the world.

Kidnapped by the Taliban

The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres because of their culture, religion, and love for education. In September, 2014, Adam was transporting goods including a parcel for an Afghan police named Captain Ramazan. He gave Adam a box and told him to deliver the box to a hotel in Jaghori.

Adam and his driver were stopped by the Taliban and they started searching. After finding and opening the box, they found out that it was full of Afghan Police uniforms.

“Finding out the uniforms, the Taliban started beating me and my driver badly.”

The Taliban took Adam and the driver to an unknown place where they were put inside a dark room. Later that night, they both heard shouts and gunshots. Then they decided to escape. While escaping through a window, some Afghan Army soldiers mistook them for the Taliban and fired after them and warned them to surrender. After discovering they were innocent, they took Adam and the driver to Ghazni.

Tearful Good-Bye

Adam then went to Kabul, contacted his family and told them what had happened. His family members told him not to return to Jaghori because the Taliban had his truck and National Identity Card with them, so they would easily find and kill him.

“I had no choice of staying in my country, so I had to seek a safe place to save my life.”

Sophie knew her life would be difficult and lonely without Adam. She was worried for their daughters and herself, but she was more worried for Adam's life. She begged him to go, saying they would be united again soon. Sophie did not know that he would be trapped limbo - far from his family and unable to work to support them. She has not seen her love for over 8 years.

Adam stayed hidden in a hotel for a week and arranged for a human trafficker. After a difficult journey, he arrived in Indonesia in October 2014.

No Freedom as Refugee

On October 20, 2014, Adam was brought to Jakarta by car where he registered himself with the UNHCR on October 21, 2014. With no right to work or way to support himself in the new country, he went to Tanjung Pinang Immigration Centre to ask for assistance. Adam was then transferred to a detention centre there on November 9, 2014. Despite living there with the limited clean water, proper food and medical care, he spent his time learning English and Bahasa Indonesia from other refugee volunteers. Also, Adam joined computer classes to improve his skills. To stay healthy there, he regularly exercised and played volleyball.

“While living in the detention centre, I was hoping to start a normal life like other people one day.”

Sophie and Adam's second daughter, Hanna, was born while he was in detention. He could not support Sophie, or kiss Hanna and welcome her to the world. It is very painful for them.

A Family Torn Apart

After months of protests for his freedom, he finally received his freedom and was transferred to a community house in Bhadra Resort in Tanjung Pinang in 2018. As a refugee, Adam is not allowed to work, get proper education, open a bank account and travel to another city.

On the other hand, he is worried for his wife and two daughters. Sophie and the girls are living with her parents at a remote farm. Sophie is not able to leave the house without a man to escort her. Ava and Hanna are not allowed to attend school. If they travel any distance, they must wear a burqa.

“I hope to find kind and generous friends who can help me come to Canada where I can reunite with my family one day. I dream that my daughters can go to school and grow up with the freedoms of Canada.”

You can help!

It is possible. Since Adam is officially certified as a refugee by the UNHCR – unlike the vast majority of the world’s refugees – him and his wife and children qualify for Canada’s private sponsorship program. Another good thing about this family is that they are FULLY FUNDED - they have a generous donor who can provide the funds needed to support them during their first year in Canada.

"I would like to save my family and help my children that they can go school and study and have a better life than Afghanistan. It is my dream to make life better."

If you would like to sponsor Adam, Sophie, Ava and Hanna – or if you’re just interested in helping to bring them here – please contact his friend Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Adam on Facebook – or by email: mohammadali2015.ms@gmail.com – or through WhatsApp: +62-831-6609-0075.

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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