An urgent appeal from
GFORCe3
March 14, 2022
Dear Friends
A few times in our
lives, we are gifted with an opportunity to make a difference. This is one of
them.
As Canadians, we enjoy political
freedom, freedom of expression and religious choice. We have access to excellent education and health
care. Canada is safe and beautiful and the people who live here are known
around the world for being friendly. We have much to be thankful for.
GFORCe is a
Georgetown area non-profit organization, which successfully assisted two Syrian
families to come to Canada, one in 2016 and the other in 2019. Today, GFORCe3 is asking for your assistance to help to
bring 2 Afghani families to Canada. GFORCe3
is providing financial support to them and assisting them in submitting their immigration
applications to the Canadian government, in the role of sponsor.
These related families worked
in journalism writing about the atrocities committed by the Taliban and in
support of education for girls and women in Afghanistan. Because of their previous truth telling and
advocacy, they are now being hunted by the Taliban. Sadly, these 9 people left
their homes with only the clothes on their backs. They are in hiding and are
marginally safe while they await their permits to come to Canada. The Taliban
is active in Pakistan where they are hiding. They are young adults, educated,
and have good employable skills, if we can only get them here.
The “Smith family” and
the “Rogers family”, as we refer to them, (for their protection, until they are
safe, we need to be cautious about their identity and situation) have been
accepted under the Canadian government Operation Afghan Safety program to apply
to immigrate to Canada. This program was
established to expedite the immigration of Afghanis to Canada. Our application process is underway, and we
expect to have permission to bring these families to our community within 6
months, instead of the usual waiting period of 12-18 months.
The latest challenge: Canada has a new rule that sponsors
must prove (via bank records) that they have 70% of the funds needed to support
their families in Canada for 1 year at the time applications are submitted and
100% of the funds when the families arrive.
GFORCe3 needs to raise $67,000 to add to the $17,000 we already have to
be able to submit the application and will need to raise the rest of the $121,100
budget within 6 months.
Fundraising has begun
and will continue for the next 6 months and will include several events.
Please help at this time, by donating to Community Unity Halton Hills
through Canada Helps.
Community Unity Halton
Hills is a registered charity of the Georgetown Ministerial and has been
involved in assisting our community for more than 15 years. All donations will receive tax a receipt.
Thank you for your consideration and generosity.
To discuss any further
details, please contact your Community Unity Halton Hills representative or any
of the following people: Susan Tupling (tupling@swdsl.com); Dennis McLay
(dennismclay@sympatico.ca); Jean Leckie (j.leckie1@sympatico.ca); Lois Fraser (lfraser@fraserdirect.ca).
