Once again Nest donors showed their outstanding support for refugee settlement in Saskatoon.

In one month, 93 Nest supporters pledged $60,000 to sponsor: Moises, a single Venezuelan refugee with relatives in Saskatoon; Hiba and Jasim, a young Sudanese couple, and a Sudanese family of five consisting of Ali, Jadda and their three children.

As Elaine Carter, a member of the Nest fundraising committee, observed: “The people of Saskatchewan never cease to amaze. You share a story of need, ask for monetary assistance and the support comes in. It fills your heart and makes you proud of your friends and acquaintances.”

Another Nest fundraising member Rita McLeod agreed. “Helping Nest raise funds for these sponsorships was a humbling experience for me. People responded so quickly and generously.”

Here are the refugees that donors pledged to support:

Moises: Nest members began fundraising in late September to help reunite Moises, who is now in Peru, with his mother Marilu and sister Ana who arrived in Saskatoon as government-sponsored refugees last year. Moises, who was 25 and not considered a dependent, was left behind. Nest hopes to submit a refugee sponsorship for Moises before the end of the year.

Hiba and Jasim: Hiba, an aspiring biochemistry student and her husband Jasim, a medical doctor, escaped the war in Sudan and eventually found asylum in Kiryandongo settlement in Uganda, which is “home” to more than 70,000 refugees. Both are Red Cross volunteers in the camp, where access to clean water, food, and medical care is scarce. “Life is a daily struggle,” they said. Nest is hoping to secure two sponsorship spots for Hiba and Jasim in 2026 to bring them to Saskatoon. (Pictured below: Jasim and Hiba in the refugee camp.)

Ali, Jadda and family: In conversations with Jasim, Nest learned about another Sudanese refugee from Darfur, a much-loved teacher named Ali, who had started a school in the Kiryandongo camp teaching English and drama. Most days, Ali had more than 60 kids in his class.

But on July 10, a gang armed with knives and machetes attacked people in the camp. One person died and many more were seriously wounded. Ali was one of them. Ali survived the attack but was worried about his family’s future.

Nest reached out to Ali, who is married and has three children and decided to try to raise enough funds to sponsor his family too. In less than one month, we had reached our combined goal of $55,000 for the Sudanese refugees.

The Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Nest’s long-time Sponsorship Agreement Holder, found five spots to sponsor Ali, Jadda and their children to Saskatoon through the special Sudanese pathway program, which offers a fast track. Their sponsorship application was submitted November 3. We expect to welcome the family to Saskatoon next year.

“I’m so grateful to all the people who helped to sponsor us,” Ali told Nest. “I am teaching my wife and children English so we can greet and thank them in person when we get to Saskatoon.”