Name: Sarwar Amiri

Profile: Hazara refugee from Afghanistan, living in Indonesia since October 2014.

Advantages: Advantage: U.N certified, Excellent English skills, English volunteer teacher, interpreter, experienced at construction, plumber, mason

FULLY FUNDED

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

Canadian contact: Stephen Watt

Needed: A group of five friends to sponsor him

Sarwar's parents died when he was young, but he always had his beloved brother. They went through a lot of hardships, but still, he was happy that his brother was with him. But the unimaginable happened - the Taliban killed his brother as punishment working in a company that was involved with the government. Sarwar was the next target. After surviving the attack at his home, he fled to Indonesia by boat in 2014.

Sarwar lived under terrible conditions at a refugee camp in Tanjung Pinang. Despite facing many problems, he keeps learning new skills and volunteering as a teacher for refugees. Sarwar has a generous donor who will provide all the funds needed to support his first year in Canada. He just needs five Canadian friends who can sponsor him to come to Canada where he can start his life again.

His Brother Murdered

Sarwar was born in 1993, in a village in the Ghazni province in Afghanistan. As a child, he was passionate about getting education and he dreamed to become a useful person for his society in the future. Unfortunately, after losing his parents, his dreams were shattered - he couldn’t continue his education. Sarwar and his brother moved in with his uncle and worked at a company that was involved with the government. Sarwar and his brother were able to live together, alongside his sister-in-law and their two children.

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

One night in September 2014, the Taliban attacked Sarwar’s home and killed his brother. Luckily, Sarwar was not at home. He then was informed by his uncle that his brother had been killed by the Taliban.

“Hearing this tragedy broke my heart into pieces that I didn’t have my brother anymore. I couldn’t believe that my brother was no longer with me after losing my parents, my brother was both father and mother to me.”

His uncle told Sarwar that the Taliban were searching for him everywhere to murder him.

“I was really afraid; on one hand I lost my brother on the other hand I had to abandon my home and my family to save my life.”

He came to Kabul and hid in a hotel. His uncle contacted him and told him that the Taliban had attacked his home again and searched for him. They tortured his family and asked for him. His uncle sent some money for him to send him to a safe place.

Dangerous Escape

After a few days in Kabul, he flew to New Delhi, India in September 2014 and he made his way to Indonesia. In Malaysia, his dangerous journey by boat began.

“It was a night and the boat was far from the coast and I was forced to enter the water and walk to the boat. It was hard for me because I was unaccustomed to the sea and I was about to drown. I thought to myself that it was the end of my life. After four hours we arrived at the Indonesian shoreline.”

Finally, he arrived in Indonesia by boat on October 2014.

Life in Detention

In 2014, Sarwar registered himself with the UNHCR office in Jakarta. With no right to work and place to stay, he was placed in the Tanjung Pinang Detention Centre.

“Life was hard in the detention center. We were treated like prisoners rather than as refugees who had fled their country to save their life.”

Despite challenges and difficulties, he never surrendered. Sarwar took English classes and volunteered to teach his fellow refugees. He volunteered to teach two classes. He also studied computer skills and psychology. He graduated as a peer counselor. After 3 years in the detention centre, he was released in January 2018 and transferred to a community house in Tanjung Pinang city.

Life without Freedom

Sarwar thought he would have freedom but he faced many restricted rules. Sarwar can't go to school, or work. He and other refugees are deprived of their basic rights. While enduring these hardships, Sarwar wishes to be helpful, and teaches English to refugees. He is studying some online classes, and he has a YouTube channel in which he teaches English.

“I can cope with difficulties, but being far from my family and being stateless always put me under the pressure that how long more I should stick in this limbo. I, like all the human beings, have been dreaming to taste real freedom and I am hoping I can get out of here with the help of you amazing people.”

His Dream

Sarwar’s dream is to start his life again where he can live without fear of discrimination, persecution and injustice. He would like to be a useful person to his family and friends, as well as the community, so that he can help others. Sarwar is already helping others with his youtube channel with dedicated English lessons.

“I want to step toward a new life where humanity is valued.”

The Opportunity

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

Another advantage about him is that he has a friend who has agreed to cover the costs of his first year in Canada. Sarwar is fully-funded and no fundraising is required.

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 Sarwar directly on Facebook or by Email.

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