In November 2019, the BBC reported on Shams Erfan, a 21-year-old Afghan who fled the Taliban, alone, as a teenager. After years of living in refugee camps and detention centers, Shams Erfan’s dream of finding a new home and starting a new life finally came true. This is the story of his journey to freedom and the challenges he faced along the way.
Shams Erfan’s escape from Afghanistan began in 2014, when he became a target of the Taliban due to his role as an English teacher. After surviving a harrowing bus hijacking, he decided it was time to leave his home country. He made his way to Delhi, then Kuala Lumpur, before eventually ending up in Indonesia. In 2016, he found himself in Pontianak, a prison camp for asylum seekers, where he started a blog to shed light on the living conditions of refugees.
As Shams Erfan’s blog gained attention, he found a supportive community of Australians and Canadians who wanted to help him leave Indonesia and resettle in a country where he could live as a normal citizen. With their support, he applied for permanent residency in Canada through the Group of Five program, which allows groups of Canadians to sponsor refugees.
The journey to Canada was not without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was the need to raise 16,500 Canadian dollars for his living expenses in Canada. However, through the generosity of his Australian friends and the support of Canadians like Renee Oettershagen and Wendy Noury Long, he was able to raise the necessary funds. Finally, in January 2020, his application for permanent residency in Canada was submitted.
After almost two years of waiting, Shams Erfan received the news that his application had been accepted. The email from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) informing him of his scheduled flight to Jakarta, where he would complete his medical examination and biometric process at the Canadian embassy, was a moment of pure joy and disbelief. It was the realization of his dream to leave Indonesia for Canada.
On March 3, 2022, Shams Erfan boarded a plane to Canada, leaving behind the refugee camps and detention centers that had been his home for eight years. As he landed in Toronto and walked through the airport gate, he experienced a sense of freedom that he had never felt before. No longer was he accompanied by guards or treated as a number. He was finally free.
Shams Erfan’s journey is a testament to the resilience and determination of refugees who seek a better life. It is also a reminder of the importance of community and support in helping refugees find a new home. As Shams Erfan settles into his new life in Canada, he plans to pursue his passion for human rights and immigration law. His story serves as an inspiration to others and a reminder of the power of kindness and compassion in changing lives.
