Over the past six years, our work in refugee sponsorship has provided us with invaluable experience and knowledge. We have learned that we can welcome refugee families of any gender or ethnicity with open arms, and we have seen the far-reaching consequences of even small acts of humanitarian work on the future of refugees and Canadian society.
Advocacy and Accomplishments In 2023, we achieved significant milestones in our advocacy efforts. We engaged in roundtable discussions with members of Parliament and Liberal Government parties, advocating for equitable and transparent emergency response frameworks. We also continued our efforts to repeal the Safe Third Country for Refugees Act, highlighting the importance of practical and compassionate avenues for donors to contribute to refugee private sponsorship.
Raising Awareness and Funds Through live video orientations and social media education sessions, we raised awareness among the Iranian community in Canada and beyond. In 2023, we successfully raised $22,000 on GoFundMe to assist refugees abroad, including six human rights defenders based in Turkey who went blind while protesting in Iran.