I am writing today to request your help to raise funds for the sponsorship of a young woman, Sarah Ibrahim, to come to Canada. She is registered with the UNHCR as a refugee.
Sarah is 27 years old, originally from Iraq, but lived in Iran much of her life. She speaks Arabic, Farsi, and some English. She has a university degree in Arabic language and literature. Sarah has fled to Lebanon because she is threatened by her father and ex-husband with death for the crime of converting to Christianity. She has no hope of building a life in Lebanon because she continues to face discrimination and has no rights there.
Sarah currently lives in Beirut, fairly close to where the blast occurred on August 4th, but she was not hurt. Unfortunately, she now has contracted Covid-19. Hopefully, she will recover quickly.
Because of COVID-19, our usual REST fundraising efforts are severely curtailed. That’s why I am making this special appeal asking for your support.
To sponsor Sarah, my husband Stephen and I are offering to donate room and board in our home in order to reduce the costs. We still need to raise $9800 to cover her settlement costs for 1 year. That is $7800 for her monthly expenses and $2000 for costs associated with her application, exit fees, and any other unexpected expenses.
Once we have pledged support totaling $9800, we can begin the process of sponsoring Sarah. We cannot proceed with sponsorship until we have donations and pledges totaling $9800.
We have already received $1450 before we started a fundraising campaign: thank you to those generous people!
For Sarah’s sponsorship, we need the following:
• 4 people to pledge $100 per month for 1 year (or a one-time donation of $1200).
• 7 people to pledge $50 per month for 1 year (or a one-time donation of $600).
• Several people to make one-time donations to total $350.
We can accept donations as one-time gifts or as 12 monthly pledges. Pledges can start immediately, or as of January 2021.
If you, or anyone you know would like to contribute toward Sarah’s sponsorship, donations can be made by the following methods:
• Print the pledge form using the link below and mail it to the church office. We will process donations, including pledges through your credit card.
• Send a cheque (or a set of post-dated cheques) to
St. Agnes Anglican Church:
530 12th St E, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2K4.
Write REST-Sarah in the subject line.
• Make an on-line donation through Canada Helps. There is a drop-down menu to select the ministry you wish to donate toward. Select Refugee Support. In the Message field write: REST-Sarah.
Donations of any amount are gratefully received at any time and 100% of funds will be used for refugee sponsorship. All donations will receive a tax receipt.
Our goal is to have donations and pledges totaling $9800 by the end of September so we can begin the refugee sponsorship process to bring Sarah to Canada. Your financial support, large or small, will help.
Thank you for continuing to support refugee sponsorship, through your interest, your prayers, your work and your funding. Together, we can make a big difference for someone who really needs it.
Shannon Muir
REST Coordinator