“I hope that one day I will be able to live like a free human in a peaceful place. I will be free from persecution and religious and ethnic discriminations.”
It’s probably fair to say that, for the average Canadian, it is difficult to imagine how a young boy of 13 could manage the journey that Abdul embarked on when he was sent into hiding by his mother. This was a journey that would take him to Pakistan, from there to Iran where he would work in a stone factory, deported a year or so later back to Afghanistan and then once again, at the insistence of his mother, back to Pakistan, where bombings and targeting of the Hazara community would force him once again to flee, this time travelling from Islamabad to Kabul, from there to Malaysia, and finally landing in Indonesia by boat.
It would also be difficult for most Canadian parents to imagine a situation where they would be forced to make the kind of decision and sacrifice that Abdul’s mother had to make when she first sent her sons into hiding.
Courage, Perseverance and Adaptability
On December 10, 2014, Abdul was registered with the UNCHR.
With no right to work or way to support himself, Abdul moved to a refugee camp. This would not stop Abdul from learning, first the official Indonesian language, Bahasa, and from there English and even some French. He would also attend online courses from Coursera. Eventually his instinct for survival would take him out of the camp closer to Jakarta.
Abdul, like most of the Afghan refugees in the UN camps in Indonesia, has been there for seven years now. Tragically, this has lead to a record number of suicides among refugees who see no hope of ever leaving. And yet, Abdul seems to be buoyed by an inner strength and courage, a proven ability to adapt, reach out and learn, sustained by a strong work ethic and armed with a remarkable sense of resiliency which, we believe, would make him an extraordinary Canadian citizen.
Looking to help Abdul come to Canada? Click on our GoFundMe link here. Tax receipts can be issued for donations over $20 by our sister organization All-Together Housing, which is a Community Sponsor for Abdul.
Quinte Refuge 
I would like more information on being a member of a settlement team please.
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Hello Angela. We are looking to settle Abdul and his family in the Belleville area. If you are a resident of the Belleville area that is a good start. At the moment we are exploring two options: one is to form a Group of Five citizens residing in the community where the newcomer will be arriving (you can also designate a representative if outside the area) or two, seeking sponsorship under the umbrella of a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). We are exploring that option through United Church of Canada (SAH) and the local Bridge Street United Church. For more information please contact us at: quinterefuge@gmail.com Thank you so much for your interest! – Bob Cottrell, Settlement Team Co-ordinator and President, All-Together Affordable Housing Corp
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