A Syrian refugee living in New Westminster may see his family sooner than expected, thanks to the holiday generosity of one local couple.
Deana Brynildsen started a crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 to sponsor Mohammed Alsaleh’s family to come to Canada after she read a story about him in the Record. Over the holidays, the campaign raised more than $18,000.
Neale Genereux and Kelly Shkuratoff are both in their early 30s and work as software engineers. They wanted to help a Syrian family and found Alsaleh’s fundraising page online and reached out. At first, they were nervous to meet Alsaleh, but they were also impressed by how much he’s helped others. The 26-year-old has been volunteering as a translator, helping other newly arrived refugees.
“He’s such a sweetheart,” Shkuratoff said. “It’s pretty incredible. It makes me want to be a better person.”
“He’s an awesome dude. We’re so happy to be able to do this,” Genereux said.
Alsaleh received news of the donation on Christmas, and he was so overwhelmed, he couldn’t believe it.
“It was my first Christmas here in Canada, and this was my first Christmas gift, also – ever,” he told the Record.
“I would like to say I literally owe my life to Canada, and Canadians have already saved me, and Canadians will save my family, as well.”
In all, 126 people donated to the campaign, including former refugees, but the final donation means Alsaleh can start the paperwork to sponsor his two sisters, one of his brothers and his mother to come to Canada.
Alsaleh came to New Westminster more than a year ago, with the help of the UNHCR, after he was tortured for protesting the Syrian regime. He hasn’t seen his family in roughly two years.
They are living in a border town in Turkey, with no phone number, and the last time they spoke, the campaign was just starting and he was asking for photos for the GoFundMe page. That was roughly 20 days ago.
“Imagine calling them and saying we have the money already; it would be unbelievable,” Alsaleh said, laughing. “I don’t think they will believe it because we just started doing this.”
Alsaleh said it should take six months to a year to get his family here. The $30,000 will cover their expenses for the first year, which the government requires before approving private sponsorships.
The campaign is still accepting donations at www.GoFundMe.com/SyrianFamilyRescue.
