Fleeing violence.
Seeking safety.
The Martha Fund is a refugee resettlement sponsorship group based in Canada on Vancouver Island. We are fundraising $75,000 to cover all expenses for a family of 5 to start a safe, stable life in Canada. We also want to connect with volunteers who can help with different aspects of starting their new life here in 2-4 years.
Email help at marthafund dot ca to learn more or volunteer.
Help Bring Arok and Martha's Family Home to Vancouver Island
Imagine leaving everything you know — fleeing your home, not once, but many times, simply because of who you are. This is the reality Arok and Martha faced every day. Now you have the chance to help write a different ending: a new home, a new beginning, on Vancouver Island.
Arok's Story
Arok belongs to the persecuted Anuak ethnic group from the Gambella region of Ethiopia. He and his family were forced to flee violence at the hands of the Ethiopian military many times. In May 2009, after being imprisoned and severely beaten simply for belonging to this minority group, Arok fled to Kenya.
“Our deepest need is to find hope,” Arok says. “Hope for a future, to have a home, and most importantly, to see my family safe. It's extremely difficult to see my children going hungry. And I fear for my family because of the security incidents that continue to happen. I really don't know what to do.”
Martha's Story
Martha's home country of South Sudan has endured decades of civil war, displacing millions of people. Peace accords are signed, then broken, and civilians are forced again and again to flee violence, starvation, and gender-based abuse. Martha fled to Kenya with her family in 2016, after a brutal attack on their village.
The violence followed her even into the refugee camp: “I was severely beaten by bandits who robbed us of all our belongings,” she recalls. “They punched my jaw and I lost a front tooth. Kenyan police moved us for a month, but we had to go back.”
A Voice of Support
Arok was sponsored to complete high school in Kenya, where he was voted ‘Head Boy’ by his fellow students and teachers—an incredible achievement for a refugee. He and Martha both speak fluent English and have worked with various NGOs in the camp — managing logistics and interpretation — until recent funding cuts ended that work.
One long-time sponsor, who has known Arok since 2011, shares: “I was so impressed with his motivation and initiative, with his brightness and kindness.”
Why Now?
Life grows more desperate by the day for Arok, Martha, and their young three children. Food rations continue to shrink, leaving the family without enough to eat and no way to earn an income of their own. Canada would be fortunate to welcome someone like Arok.
Our Ask
Will you help us sponsor Martha, Arok, and their three children to come to Vancouver Island and build a new life? We need to raise a minimum of $35,000 to bring this family to safety and welcome them home.
*Names and faces have been changed to protect the family's security.