“I am someone who has been through a lot, but still have hope for a better future. I want to live in a safe place where I can be myself without fear. I dream of continuing my education, finding a stable job, and building a peaceful life in Canada.”

Dear fellow voyager,

Around the world, over 120 million people are displaced by conflict and persecution. I met “Elias” (pseudonym) online through my sister, a Queer activist involved in Rainbow Refuge work. Elias had written a personal letter to my sister, sharing the gravity of his situation, and asking for her help to access refuge. She was already sponsoring two others, which is the limit Canada sets, so she shared his call for help. Immediately upon reading his call for help, I felt my own being responding with a clear yes. I want to help Elias access safety.

Elias has fled extreme persecution in his home country and is struggling to survive alone as a refugee. He is frightened, and in a precarious situation. He is a nursing student who hopes to continue working in health care, and helping others in dire circumstances.

My sister has secured Elias a place in the Rainbow Refugee pathway to immigration. To help bring his dream of safety into reality, I formed a sponsorship group with some local friends, and we are collaborating to fundraise to support his immigration process and then help him build a life in Canada. The first step in this process is to raise $18,000 to be able to enter the immigration line in his spot through the Rainbow Refugee program. We will need to raise $30,000 Canadian in total to help him immigrate and provide financial support for the first year while he is rooting down here.

We are holding various fundraisers to raise the financial bridge for him to come to Canada as a permanent resident.

One of these fundraisers is: CREATIVITY FOR LIBERATION, a collaborative fundraising workshop exploring the themes of liberation through the arts. 25 facilitators are offering creative sessions in dance, movement, visual art, poetry, expressive arts, somatics, vocal improv, vocal meditation, as well as yoga and meditation, donating their time to help raise money for Elias to access safety. 100% of the proceeds will fund Elias’ immigration process, to relocate to Victoria, BC, Canada as a permanent resident.

You can help weave this loving magic, through participating in some of these workshops.

“Love and Justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” Rev angel Kyodo williams

I have been asked some questions about this endeavor. Such as, ‘Why so much energy to help one person?' My response to this is ‘Why not help one person?’

If I were in a situation where I was facing life-threatening danger and was frightened and alone, I would hope that when I reached out for help someone would extend their hand to me and help me. If you were facing life-threatening danger and were frightened and alone, I would hope that when you reached out for help someone would extend their hand to help you.

And, in response to the question of why so much energy or attention towards this one person? It takes a great deal of energy to raise $30,000. And everyone’s life is a precious and valuable life.

click here to register for creativity for liberation, or the other Upcoming Creative Fundraisers

1. 3 Days of Creativity for liberation Online Dance and Expressive Arts Workshop 25 facilitators holding creative sessions through a range of somatic, creative, and expressive arts pathways, February (16th) and March (8th and 30th).

2. Fear Clinic for Folks in Turbulent Times (Feb 22) REGISTRATION OPENS FEB 1

3. Fear Clinic for Practitioners (Mar 15) (Therapists, Educators, Group Facilitators, Activists, etc) REGISTRATION OPENS FEB 1

4. Online Auction of goods and services, March 20-27, including (service) a zoom mentoring session on writing and publishing with award winning author Robin Stevenson, and (goods) vocal improvisation cards and videos by vocal improvising Elder Rhiannon. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON

5. Art Therapy Process Group on the theme of Liberation, April 2-April 30. REGISTRATION OPENS FEB 1

to donate to “elias’” safety and relocation fund visit our charitable impact page

(Canadians who donate are able to receive a tax receipt through this Canadian platform)