Name: Mohammad Zia Haidari

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, Good English skills, Excellent Indonesian language

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Mohammad Zia was only 13 years old when he was abducted from his school by the Taliban. He somehow escaped from their hands, but he faced ACL injury while running away from them. When he reached his home, his parents decided to send him to a safe place, and he fled to Indonesia in 2018.

Since then, he has been living in a shelter, and he is very hopeful to find five Canadian friends who can sponsor him to Canada, a place where he can finally get proper education and fulfill his dreams.

His Story

Mohammad Zia was born on January 1, 2004 in a small village in the Oruzgan Khas district of the Oruzgan province in Afghanistan. His father, Muhammad Sadiq Haidari was a freelance worker, and he always encouraged his son to get an education.

The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres due to their culture, religion, and love for education.

Abducted

Mohammad Zia was in grade 7 in his school, and one day, the Taliban attacked his school and abducted him and some other students.

“I was trembling with fear, they took us to an unknown place.”

Somehow, he ran away from their hands. During his escape, he fell and his knee got badly injured. Later, he came to know that it was ACL Injury.

When he returned to his home, his parents got happy, but they were worried as well because it was obvious that the Taliban would come for him again, and they would kill him.

His Journey to Indonesia

His parents decided to send him to a safe place though he was only 14 years old at that time. They arranged for a people smuggler, and Zia flew from Kabul to New Delhi, India. From there to Malaysia, and then to Indonesia.

His Life in Limbo

He registered himself at the UNHCR office on January 18, 2018. Then, he was transferred to a shelter in South Jakarta. While living in the shelter, his knee got surgery because of his ACL injury.

“Before the surgery, I missed my parents a lot, they had to be beside me to give me confidence and hope.”

His Dreams

Zia dreams of living in a safe country where he can continue his study, learn new skills and support his family.

“I hope to be a helpful person to society and my family.”

There is a way

As a UNHCR refugee, Mohammad Zia is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. there is a way for him to fulfill his dream and continue living peacefully. All he needs is to be sponsored by a group of five Canadian friends.

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

You can also reach out to Mohammad Zia directly on Facebook.

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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