Success Stories - Ghezae: Giving back to the community

June 2011

Born in Asmara, Eritrea, Ghezae left his home country in 1999 because of the war with Ethiopia. As a journalist and teaching assistant with a law degree from Asmara University, he both lived and covered stories of the war.

“I originally left Eritrea to go to McGill University in Montreal after they gave me a scholarship,” says Ghezae. “While in Canada, the Eritrean government closed all the newspapers. Many of my colleagues and even my best friend were put in jail. Most of my friends are still in jail. Some of them have died there. None have been freed. They’ve been in prison for nearly a decade. When I saw what was happening, I knew there’d be a death warrant for me if I went back. I decided to make a refugee claim in Canada.”

With his wife and son now with him in Winnipeg, Ghezae continues to help others by working with refugee claimants at the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to help the way I was helped. It kind of makes sense in my life. I know what it means to miss home.”

As to the future, Ghezae says, “Persecution, sorrow and suffering aren’t truly in the past. Unless men of commitment and dedication advocate for change, things will be worse. As a humanitarian activist, I want to find a voice. A voice to tell Canadians to act before it is too late for Eritrea.”

Did you know that in some countries, you can go to jail or be tortured just because you practise your religion?