Our First Fundraiser to Sponsor Shafiq's family to move to Canada Recap!
We have a rare and special opportunity to be part of a life-altering change for the family of one of Jewel Envy’s very own goldsmiths, Shafiq Sarwari, sponsoring their immigration to Canada to escape Taliban retribution in Afghanistan.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Shafiq was already an accomplished goldsmith and lapidarist with his own thriving business when he sought asylum in 2016 while on a North American trip to exhibit his work. Although it was difficult to leave his family, he knew that this was the opportunity they all needed to escape that horrible regime. He settled in Toronto and has been a great addition to Jewel Envy ever since, consistently proving himself as kind, caring, and hardworking.
Shafiq’s family acted as guides and interpreters for the US armed forces during their time in Afghanistan and when the US pulled out of the region, the Taliban actively sought out to punish them. They’ve been in hiding ever since, leaving everything behind and using their remaining resources to cross the border into Pakistan just to survive. They currently are living as refugees in Pakistan but they can’t stay there.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?
Between his parents, siblings, and nieces/nephews, there are seven adults and five children who we’re sponsoring for a new life. The adults are educated and ready to contribute but we need to get them here. As part of the Canadian Government’s refugee sponsorship program there is a Group of Five who formally sponsor the family and this group has a hefty goal of raising $120,000 to support them for their first year here in Canada. Jewel Envy is not part of the Group of Five but the founder is one of them and all the group’s members are invested in seeing Shafiq's family arrive here safely.
To help with that fundraising, we asked past and current goldsmiths to donate work for an auction and they all gave generously. Shafiq is part of our family and we want you to know your bids and or donations make you part of the family as well.
This fundraiser is organized by Jewel Envy as part of a Group of Five sponsorship application but all proceeds go to the funding of Shafiq’s family. Each artist has been offered the opportunity to receive up to 20% of the retail value of their pieces sold to recoup a small amount of the material fees, but many have generously waived this payment. After much research, this particular auction platform allowed the greatest amount of money to go directly to the sponsorship fund.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
- You can bid generously on the auction items here and can also donate through this platform. To save the processing fees charged by the platform, feel free to contact Jewel Envy (info@jewelenvy.ca) to find out how to contribute directly to the sponsorship fund.
- It will be further in the future but once the family arrives, they will only have what they can carry. If you feel you might have extra furniture, clothing, or household items available at a later date, please let us know at info@jewelenvy.ca and we’ll make a note to reach out when the family arrives.
- Please share this with your friends, family, and network. If everyone contributes just a fraction of what they can, we’ll reach our goal.
WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT?
The amazing part about this opportunity is that we will be able to get to know these people, to interact with them face-to-face, and to watch the children learn, grow, and flourish. We’ll get to see, firsthand, the positive, life-changing impact that can be achieved when we all band together and focus our efforts. It’s a very special opportunity in which Jewel Envy is honoured to participate.
We’ve all been blessed to have the lives we were born into and it is difficult to imagine the horrors Shafiq’s family has endured, especially the children. They are all good people and we’re committed to help them; we hope that you help them too.
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