Help the United Neighbours sponsorship group bring a young Syrian family to Toronto.

Jafar and Nour were both children when the Syrian civil war rolled over their hometown of Daraa. Their families fled to Lebanon, which took in thousands of refugees from the conflict. They finished their schooling there, met and married and have a baby boy, Firas, who just turned two.

Jobs are precarious for Syrians in Lebanon and they came under bombardment when Israel was fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The economic crisis has made life very hard and basic necessities are expensive. In Syria, the fall of Assad has lured some refugees back home, but for this little family, there is nothing to return to.

Two of Jafar’s brothers are already in Canada, sponsored by United Neighbours in 2016 and 2020. United Neighbours is a group of Toronto residents and St. Matthew’s United Church folks working together. St. Matthew’s is the Sponsorship Agreement Holder, with aid from the national church Refugee Advisor. Our private sponsorship has been approved by Immigration Canada and our group is preparing to welcome the family early in 2025.

We believe this family will do well in Canada. With brothers and cousins here, as well as United Neighbours friends, there is plenty of support for their transition. Both Alaalyans work in construction and have plans to help their brother find similar work. They are putting aside money for Jafar’s family and have plans to help them with housing.

Please consider giving to this refugee resettlement project through CanadaHelps.