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 one.

Jafar, now 23, has worked in a carwash, in a supermarket and as a delivery driver, but jobs are precarious for Syrians in Lebanon. The economic crisis there is making life harder. He and his family are UNHCR refugees. And while the Syrian war has dropped out of the news cycle, the crisis continues. As conflict escalates in the Middle East, there is a danger that Lebanon will be pulled in, worsening their situation.

Two of Jafar’s brothers are already in Canada, sponsored by United Neighbours in 2016 and 2020. Both 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.

The Alaalyans have asked United Neighbours to help with fundraising and submitting papers. United Neighbours is a group of Toronto residents and St. Matthew’s United Church folks who sponsored the first two families. St. Matthew’s is the Sponsorship Agreement Holder, working with the national church Refugee Advisor.

Please consider giving to this refugee resettlement project through CanadaHelps.