PLEASE HELP JIREH MABAMBA'S FAMILY

Posted by Bob Sherman

Please help the Mabamba family!

Jireh Mabamba’s family needs our help. While Jireh's father, mother and four siblings are in living in fear of their lives daily. The Mabamba family is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, from which they fled several years ago after being persecuted for Jireh’s father opposition as a minister to recruiting children as young as ten years of age into the army.

South Africans in Durban, where the Mabamba family now lives, are attacking and killing “foreigners.” Since March 30, eight people have been killed by mobs with machetes and by being doused with gasoline and set on fire. A friend of Jireh’s father was burned to death in the street and his little brother Ben is afraid to use public transportation to go to school.

I have engaged the law firm of Fredickson & Byron in Minneapolis to represent the family and acquire visas for them to leave the country. The firm has an excellent track record helping refugees and is working to acquire R-1 visas for four of the family. This is a special visa available to ministers of recognized churches. Other visas will be needed for the older siblings.

I estimate that more than $20,000 will be needed for legal fees and that about $10,000 will be needed to fly the family to the US. So far, Rotarians have contributed about $2800 and other funds are expected as I present to clubs around the area. A special booth at the D-5580 conference this week is being set up by Rotarians Marty Byrnes and Chris Correia. Of the $2800 pledged so far, $1500 came from the international service fund at Skyline Rotary.

Checks should be made out to the Mabamba Family Relief fund and can be given to me or Patty in the Club 25 office.

Bob Sherman