Farzin Yousefian’s wedding has been cancelled and his bride, Samantha Jackson, could not be happier. Yousefian and Jackson decided to annul their big wedding ceremony and use the money and donations from their guests to help a Syrian refugee family, who has recently fled to Canada.
Farzin Yousefian‘s wedding plans have been drastically changed to help a family in need. For months, Yousefian and Samantha Jackson had been planning a big wedding ceremony, which was supposed to be attended by their friends and family members – but all that changed in September.
Like the rest of the world, the Canadian couple saw the heartbreaking pictures of Aylan Kurdi – the three-year-old Syrian boy, who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Syrian refugee crisis, (which played a significant role in the Canadian election).
It is claimed that Kurdi’s family was trying to reach Canada. Jackson, a doctorate student in public policy, said the horrific picture of the child’s lifeless body on the sand pushed them to do something for the greater good. Mrs. Jackson shared:
“We were in the midst of wedding planning in September when that devastating photo of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi found on a beach came out. Like so many other people, we became acutely aware of how bad the situation was getting and how important it was to act and do something positive, so we canceled the wedding and redirected the funds.”
Few days ago, Jackson and Yousefian, who had already booked a venue, caterers, cancelled everything and opted for a small wedding at Toronto’s City Hall instead, so they can sponsor a Syrian refugee family of four in the area. Jackson and Yousefian asked their guests to support the refugees instead of gifts, and they have raised thus far $17,500 and are hoping to reach their goal of $27,000.
The bride explained that she also has been volunteering for Ryerson University Lifeline Syria Challenge – a charity that raises money to pay for rent, clothing and food for one year for Syrian refugee families resettling in Canada. Mr. Yousefian went on to add that the wedding was perfect, and he could not think of a better way to star his life with his selfless wife. He added:
“We could not stop thinking about the difficult decisions that many Syrian families are forced to make… [we] immediately began redrawing our plans with the hope of helping a Syrian family start a new life in Toronto.”
Yousefian said their actions represent Canadian’s values, and they are hoping others will be inspired to help the refugees however they can. Mr. Yousefian stated:
“Our decision is a reflection of the very values that Canadians hold so dear. We are certain that our initiative will inspire others, just as the acts of others have inspired us… We are truly privileged to have had the opportunity to use our wedding for a greater cause than our own.”
Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to take in 25,000 refugees from Syria by the end of 2016.
