Name: Rahmat Ali

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, Advanced English, Volunteer English teacher, Interpreter and Community representative, fluent in English, Graduated with GED

FULLY FUNDED

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

Rahmat was just 13 years old when his father, among other Hazara coal miners, was executed by Islamic extremists. This was the day his childhood ended. Most 13 year-olds are concerned with school and friends - as the only surviving male in the family, Rahmat went to work to support his sister and mother. First in Quetta, until he almost died in a missile attack. Then, alone in Iran as a child labourer. After being deported back to Afghanistan at just 15, his mother begged him to go to a safe country.

Rahmat fled to Indonesia at 16 and lived on the street. Despite facing so much adversity, he kept learning many skills while also volunteering and interpreting for refugees. He is a helper of his community in every way and he hopes to find five Canadian friends who can help him start his life again. Rahmat already has donors to cover the cost of his first year in Canada. His hope now is to find a group of friends who can sponsor him to Canada. His childhood is gone, but let's give Rahmat a chance for a lifetime of of security and freedom in Canada.

His Early Life

Rahmat Ali was born in 1999 in a village of the Jaghori district of Ghazni province in Afghanistan. The Hazara people of the region have long been targets of persecution and massacres because of their culture, religion, and love for education.

Like other Hazaras, Rahmat’s parents were threatened with death by the Taliban, so they fled to Quetta, Pakistan. They brought Rahmat and his sister to settle in a new country, seeking peace. In 2001, persecution and massacres of Hazara people began in Pakistan, as well. Large scale bombings plus murders and attacks on individuals made living there frightening and dangerous. But, Rahmat’s family had nowhere else to go. They were living a horrible life.

Losing His Father (His Hero)

Rahmat's father was a coal miner. In early 2011, while returning from work to home, his father was murdered by an extremist group whose goal is to exterminate the Hazara - the Lashkar e Jhangvi. The attack is documented as part of the Lashkar e Jhangvi continuing persecution of the Hazara.

“After hearing about my father's murder, I didn't know what to do. My mother was unconscious for 5 hours and my elder sister was in shock. My father was my hero.”

Rahmat left school and became labor to support his family. Rahmat was just 13 years old.

The Attack

On the morning of May 6, 2011, Rahmat was praying beside his father's grave. Some people were playing football and jogging beside the graveyard, and suddenly, a car stopped about 200 meters away from them. A man came out of the car and launched a rocket over them.

“I screamed and warned others but it was too late. Eight people died and fifteen were wounded, and a piece of iron wounded my one finger.”

When he reached home, his mother was shocked to see him wounded. Then, she made the heartbreaking decision to send 13 year old Rahmat out of Pakistan. He was just a child.

Migrating to Iran

During that time a number of attacks took place on Hazara people who were travelling to Iran. The journey was dangerous. Fortunately, Rahmat arrived in Iran safely in mid-2012. He began supporting his family by working in a stone-cutting factory for nearly 3 years. While most children are in the safe embrace of their families, learning and exploring the world, Rahmat was on his own. He was an illegal labourer, far from home.

Iran is not sympathetic to the plight of the Hazara and routinely arrest and deport the Hazara seeking safety there. Rahmat was finally caught by the police and deported to Afghanistan. When he called his mother and told her he would come to Pakistan, she told him not to come.

"My mother said, "The the situation had got worse since you left Pakistan. I can't lose you, as well."

Rahmat couldn’t visit his family in Pakistan, nor live in Afghanistan. There was no where safe to go.

The Way to Indonesia

At 15 years old, Rahmat arranged for a human trafficker with the hopes of finding refuge in a safe country. With the help of some kind people, he flew from Kabul to New Delhi, Indian on December 24, 2014. He stayed there for a week, and on December 31, he flew to Singapore and waited for two hours in the airport, then flew to Indonesia and arrived in Jakarta on January 1, 2015 on his 16th birthday.

From there, he went to Cisarua, Bogor, and was registered at the UNHCR office on January 5, 2015.

Incredible Accomplishments

Since Rahmat was just 13 years old, he has been living in limbo without the rights to work and get a proper education. He hoped to find these things in Indonesia, but the limbo has continued. After arriving in Indonesia, he lived for almost a year on the sidewalk despite asking the UNHCR for help. Even at that time - without a roof and proper food to eat - Rahmat focused on helping others. He taught other refugee children on the street to keep them away from the unbearable impact of crisis and migration and helped them get a basic education.

"I have spent my childhood working and migrating to other countries for the sake of work and survival."

Despite the hardships he has endured, Rahmat has continued to learn and grow taking advantage of every opportunity he has been given. After one year, he was placed in refugee accommodation. He attended several English language classes online and in person - he is fluent in English both written and spoken. He became familiar with digital programs (MS Word, Excel, Web designing and some others).

"I have been a volunteer English teacher for the refugee community since late 2018 to early 2021, and I also have been a community representative for medical and educational issues since late 2018 until now. Moreover, I have graduated from high school the GED program (General Educational Development) in early 2022 which motivated me to continue my college studies. Currently, I am enrolled in the University of of the People, a non-profit online and offline university, in business administration.

I help people around me in any way I can, I believe in unity and peace. Every one of us has potentials and talents, we need to share them and learn from each other in return.”

You Can Help

Rahmat has overcome so much adversity on his own, but he still needs your help.

As a UNHCR refugee, Rahmat is eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. He needs a group of five Canadian friends to support him. He already has a donor to provide the funds to support their first year in Canada. He needs no fundraising - just 5 kindhearted Canadians ready to give Rahmat the chance for safety and security. He has the drive and smarts to make the most of this opportunity. Rahmat will be a model citizen.

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

You can also reach out to Rahmat on Facebook.

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

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