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“They didn’t care who I was, or what dangers they might face by helping me, only that there was a person in need. I will be forever in their debt.”
Our team of volunteers has been fighting since 2016 to prevent their deportation from Hong Kong and to compel Canada to expedite their relocation to safety. Six of seven are safe in Canada, where they are now permanent residents. The seventh, Ajith, remains in Hong Kong where his life is at risk.
In early 2023, our team of volunteer lawyers are taking the government to court to try to force them to process Ajith’s application. He is legally barred from working in Hong Kong and depends on our donations to pay for rent and food. Together we can finish the job — and bring him home to Canada.
For the Refugees can now issue tax receipts for new donations if you are a resident of Canada. If you would like to receive a receipt for your donation, please use the link below. For international donors, you can still make donations through PayPal.
Ajith signed up for the military in Sri Lanka when he was 18 years old. In the Ambepussa Army Camp, young recruits were abused daily and often raped by their superiors. A victim of sexual abuse and at one point left for dead, Ajith deserted. When he was caught by the military police, he was then tortured. Finally he escaped and fled Sri Lanka in 2003.
With his military background, Ajith acted as Edward Snowden’s bodyguard in Hong Kong in 2013.
In early 2023, our team of volunteer lawyers took the Canadian government to court to try to force them to process Ajith’s application. He is legally barred from working in Hong Kong and depends on our donations to pay for rent and food. Together we can finish the job — and bring him home to Canada.
Ajith has been diagnosed with PTSD and fears he will be killed if he returns to his home country. He tries to find solace in his practice of Buddhism, but wants nothing more than to have a normal life and to see his daughter again. They have not seen each other in over 15 years.
During a trip home to the Philippines in 2000, Vanessa was kidnapped and raped. She gave birth to a son who was taken from her and is now presumed to be dead. In 2002 she fled back to Hong Kong to escape her aggressor, where she lived with her infant daughter Keana.
In June 2013 she sheltered an unexpected visitor named Edward Snowden, hiding his passport in her refrigerator. Today, Vanessa has fond memories of Edward playing with her little daughter and all three of them celebrating his 30th birthday together in her home.
Vanessa and Keana were admitted to Canada as refugees privately sponsored by For the Refugees in March, 2019, and currently live in Montreal.
For the Refugees’ sponsorship of Vanessa and Keana was successfully completed in 2020.
To learn more about Vanessa’s story, please see here.
They met in Hong Kong, and now have two children, Sethumdi and Dinath. Supun is also Keana’s father, and Sethumdi and Dinath are Keana’s half-siblings. After years of advocacy, the family were finally allowed to come to Canada in the Fall of 2021.
The formerly stateless children and their parents are now permanent residents of Canada. Your donations have paid their living expenses and kept the kids in school for the past five years, and allowed For the Refugees to support the family as they got on their feet.
Now both parents have full-time jobs in Montreal, and the kids are thriving in school. To learn more about the family’s story, please see here.
