The Abazid family in Saint John: Reham (right), with her son Haidar and her sister Rozam (left).
A crowdfunding campaign was launched Tuesday to help Reham Abazid bring her family to Canada.
Abazid moved to Saint John in 2015 to flee the war in her home country, Syria. She has since become a deeply committed and active community member.
Abazid has been through a war, lost a child, had to escape to Jordan and now is trying to reunite with her family.
Her parents and her brothers are still in Jordan, close to the Syrian border. Abazid and her son Haidar say they are excited to show them just how kind Canadians are.
“I need to grab my family because I need them to see why I chose Saint John to be my home now, because I will never get back to Syria,” she said.
Reham and her son Haidar feel right at home in Saint John.
Abazid is thrilled to see the community come together to help her and Haidar.
“It exactly reminds me of my feeling when I arrive to Canada three years ago, I was super happy, and today is the same feeling,” she said.
A volunteer committee is already two-thirds of the way to their $30,000 goal, thanks to individual donors and businesses. They are now launching a go-fund-me to raise the last $10,000.
Kate Wallace, a member of the committee, met Abazid years ago and now calls her a dear friend.
“Reham, with her devotion to the community, her openness, her dedication, if bringing her family here means she is able to stay and build her life here, then that’s what we have to do,” she said.
Abazid admits it’s been tough to be without her family.
“I don’t have anyone here, except my sister. Even if I have friends, they are not enough. I would love to have my mom here.”
She says having someone to watch Haidar after school would allow her to do more community work, something she is very passionate about.
From working at the YMCA to tutoring language classes to feeding the homeless in Saint John, Abazid is also fundraising to help others in refugee camps in Jordan, and hopes to help more than just her family come to Canada.
Donations to help meet the $10,000 goal can be made online.
