Help create a legacy for Hamza Mustafa, aspiring veterinarian killed in Christchurch Shootings

Hamza Mustafa, 16, and his father Khaled Alhaj Mustafa both died in the Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15th 2019. The Mustafa family had been Syrian refugees in Jordan for five years before moving to New Zealand last year.

Khaled was a valued farrier in the Christchurch community, while Hamza was a talented horse rider, who aspired to be a veterinarian. His career aspirations have been confirmed with the principal at Cashmere High school where Hamza was a student.

Funds raised will be used to create the Hamza Mustafa Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to one or more Massey University veterinary science student(s) annually who fit the criteria to be determined with Hamza’s mother, Salwa Mustafa. Salwa was very touched when this idea was discussed with her and grateful for the opportunity to have her son’s name remembered through a scholarship.

To those involved in the veterinary, equine or other animal related professions, this is our opportunity to not only show that “They are us” but on a personal level to show that “Hamza and Khaled are us”.

To create a named scholarship, a minimum of $30,000 is required, which equates to around $1,500 per year to be awarded to the scholarship recipient(s). We are hoping to collect much more than $30,000 to enable a larger scholarship to be awarded and to have the option to contribute some funding support directly to Salwa and her remaining two children.

The fundraising and organisation is being driven by Vet School staff members Kate Hill and Eloise Jillings (who can be contacted for more details if needed) and has the support of the School of Veterinary Science and the College of Sciences at Massey University.