Name: Omid Shoja

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, proficient in English writing and speaking, Computer skills (windows, adobe photoshop and hardware), photography

Risk: at risk of being caught and killed by the Taliban if return to Afghanistan.

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Partially Funded – needs approximately $3000 CDN in fundraising to meet the $16,500 CDN minimum

Need: 5 Canadian sponsors who live in Canada and near to each other.

The Taliban captured Omid and his father under false charges. When it came clear that their lives were in danger, Omid’s father created a distraction so Omid could flee. He saved Omid’s life and sacrificed his own for his son. Heartbroken, Omid fled his village and then Afghanistan to respect his father’s dying wish that Omid survive.

Omid is surviving, but he needs our help to really live. Omid is a refugee in Indonesia – now for over 7 years. Refugees in Indonesia have no rights to work, to education or to healthcare. But you can help! With the help of 5 Canadian friends, Omid can be sponsored to move to Canada where he can live in freedom.

A Peaceful Life

Omid Shoja was born in 1997 to an ordinary family in Jaghuri province of Ghazni, Afghanistan. He belongs to the Hazara ethnic minority. The Hazara face widespread systematic discrimination, targeting and persecution with ruthless ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Taliban and ISIS have targeted the Hazara for more than a century and no place is safe. Houses, shops, markets, squares and even schools are not safe and have been targeted in suicide attacks for decades.

“Despite that I had my dreams, I was so passionate to learn and achieve knowledge and work hard to help people in the future and have a positive future for myself.”

Omid loved school and attended for as long as he could and still remain safe from the Taliban. He has always enjoyed sports to maintain his physical and mental health. Whenever he has time off school, he helped his father at his photographic studio.

His Father’s Murder

After leaving school, Omid helped his father run his photography store. The store was located near a police station. One day, an officer asked Omid’s father for his services. He needed him to come to the station and take some pictures. Omid’s Dad took the photos that were requested and forgot about it. He did not know that these photos would lead to his murder.

Omid and his Dad were travelling from city of Ghazni to Jaghori. This is a dangerous route for the Hazara, as the Taliban create check points along the way, harassing Hazara. That night, their car was stopped by the Taliban. When they saw the camera, they demanded that is be turned on so they could see the pictures. When they saw the pictures of the police officers in the police station, the Taliban accused them of working with the police and being the enemy of the Taliban.

They blindfolded and bound Omid and his father and put them in a car to take them to be interrogated – certain death for most Hazara. By luck, the car got stuck and their captors left them alone while they looked for help. Abid and his father managed to untie their hands. Omid’s father created a diversion so Abid could escape.

“I saw that my father and the Taliban were fighting and the gun was between them. Then my father asked me, “Omid! Omid run away run away!”

Omid’s father sacrificed himself so his son could escape. Omid ran and found a place to hide. His neighbours warned him that it was no longer safe for him in their town. They arranged for him to escape to Kabul. It was there that he heard the terrible news.

“My uncle came to Kabul and told that the Taliban killed my father.”

Running for his Life

Omid had a terrible choice – stay in Afghanistan and be murdered, or leave everyone he loved and flee to Indonesia. A human smuggler arranged his travels to Bogor, Indonesia, where he registered with UNHCR. The UNHCR does not resettle refugees in Indonesia. He also can’t work, can’t go to school, or become a citizen. His healthcare is minimal. At only 17, he found himself fatherless, far from home and sleeping on the street. He has been living in these terrible conditions since 2014.

Omid has tried to stay positive during this time. It has been difficult, with little to no support from the UNHCR. He also feels very helpless about the Taliban in Afghanistan making all Hazara there unsafe. He studies English and exercises. He hopes he will find freedom soon.

In his words:

I am sharing my life story with those who can help me to find sponsors in beautiful Canada and all it needs for five caring and kind-hearted people to get together and decide to bring me to Canada, where I can take my First step toward a new life which have human being rights.

My dream is to start a new life in a country where I can escape from discrimination, cruelty and injustice, to be free of nightmares and treats.

Where my voice can be heard and not be under persecution and torture.

I can bring positive and initiative changes to a country where that give me a chance to live in.

Canada is a country where is humanity is cherished and human rights are equally shared to everyone,

Regardless of who are they and where are they come from.

I am sure it will happen by your help and kindness.

You Can Help!

Omid’s dreams can come true in Canada. Since he is officially certified as a refugee by the UNHCR – unlike the vast majority of the world’s refugees – he qualifies for Canada’s private sponsorship program.

Another advantage about Omid is that he has a friend who has agreed to donate the costs of his first year in Canada. Omid is partially-funded. Kind donors are providing $13,500 towards the $16,500 needed for his sponsorship application, and to support him as he gets settled in Canada.

If you would like to sponsor him – or if you’re just interested in helping to bring him here – please contact his friend Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Omid directly on Facebook – or by email - or through WhatsApp: +62 81283336628

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

Thank you for your support. And help spread the word by sharing this post!