(a message from Noel and Angelique)
Ash is a young health worker, who was chased from his home in Syria because of his sexuality. He has been on the run for 15 years and is currently hiding in Baghdad.
Ash was a registered nurse in Syria and has worked in three hospitals. He worked in an Intensive Care Unit in Syria, on a bone marrow transplant team for children in a central Iraq hospital, and was a physiotherapy assistant For Red Cross / Red Crescent in Lattakia (Syria).
Ash wants to come to Canada to work in health care and build a new life in Etobicoke. Talking to him online, Noel felt strongly his sincere desire to be safe, and to contribute to our country.
We are trying to raise the $18,000 that will be necessary to sponsor Ash and help him start over in Canada. In addition to funds we’re looking to build a team of people who can help him learn about Canada and find a job and apartment once he gets here.
We are working with Rainbow Railroad to help Ash. This is a registered Canadian charity that helps refugees who are persecuted for their sexuality. They have researched Ash, and the current situation in Syria and Iraq. They only choose a small number of the most urgent refugee claimants to help every year, and Ash is one of them. We found a Government of Canada official warning that, in Iraq, gays and lesbians “face extreme discrimination, harassment and violence.”
All donations are eligible for charitable tax receipts, and can be made via credit card at this link, with a cheque made out to Rainbow Railroad Canada, or with cash that we’ll pass on.
MORE ABOUT ASH
In his childhood home in Syria, Ash was threatened by violent bigots, but a Christian priest gave him shelter.
He fled to Iraq in 2021– first to the city of Erbil and then to Sulaymaniyah.
Right now, he’s hiding in the Christian neighbourhood of Baghdad. But he isn’t safe there either and his life has been threatened by the intolerant local authorities. Someone at the hospital where he worked before stole his passport, in an effort to deport him, which increases his vulnerability in Baghdad.
He loves animals and camping, he worked in an horse stable for a while too. He knows about our country’s incredible natural beauty and wildlife and that’s one reason he’s excited about this opportunity.
There is serious shortage of PSWs and nurses in Ontario. Ash tells us he’d love to work in health care if he has a chance, in our country. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we can help give Ash a new life, and then he can save lives once he gets here!
