Name: Sahar Sadat and her daughter, Marwa (2 years old).

Profile: Hazara refugees from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia.

Advantages: UN-certified, good English skills, mother.

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Sahar faced violent behavior from her husband for 11 years. After getting a divorce, she was threatened by her in-laws many times. Knowing that she could lose her child if she lived in Afghanistan, she fled to Indonesia by boat in 2019.

Unfortunately, she and her daughter have been living without their basic human rights. They are UNHCR refugees and they can be sponsored in Canada. All they need is a group of Canadian friends who can help them start a new life in Canada.

Mother in Danger

Sahar Sadat was born in 1992 in Ghazni province of Afghanistan. She was only two years old when she lost her parents, and she grew up with many sufferings and problems in her uncle’s family. At the age of 16, she got married by her uncle’s decision. Unfortunately, her husband and in-laws were violent, and that was the reason she divorced her husband after 11 years. During that time, Sahar was about one month pregnant.

“After the divorce, my husband and his family threatened me to death. They warned that if my child was born, they would take him/her from me and would kill me.”

Dangerous Journey

Being in a lonely and difficult situation, she was repeatedly threatened and her life was in real danger as she did not have anyone behind her. To save her and her child’s life, Sahar had to leave Afghanistan and seek a safe place. With the help of a kind person, she arranged for a people smuggler, and in June 2019, she flew from Kabul to New Delhi, India. From there, she went to Malaysia by plane and then on to Indonesia by boat in July 2019.

“Being a pregnant woman, I suffered a lot in this dangerous journey.”

Her life in Indonesia

After arriving in Jakarta and registering herself with the UNHCR, Sahar started living in Jakarta. She was financially supported by an organization, but after a while, she and other local people were affected by a flood, and she moved to Cisarua, Bogor.

On December 11, 2019, she was blessed with a beautiful daughter whom she named Marwa.

Present Situation

Sahar and her daughter have been living in a very difficult situation. Like other refugees in Indonesia, they are not allowed to get proper education, work, drive and travel to another city. On the other hand, being a woman, she has witnessed harassment from local people multiple times. She says:

“I am very worried about my and my child’s future. I am a single mother who has a heavy responsibility.”

The Only Way!

Returning to Afghanistan is not safe for Sahar and her daughter nor they can live with freedom in Indonesia, but there is a way for them to live in peace and pursue their dreams.

As UNHCR refugees, they are eligible for Canada’s private sponsorship program. They need a group of five Canadian friends to support them.

To help support Sahar and her daughter as a sponsor, please contact Stephen Watt on Facebook.

You can also reach out to Sahar directly on Facebook.

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

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