Foundation of Hope held its first annual general meeting on July 22, 2015. We officially adopted our bylaws, appointed an Executive and Board of Directors, and established a set of standing committees for the coming years – these are the hallmark of sound governance.

Standing committees are the pillars of FOH’s success. They comprise members of the working Board of Directors as a volunteer organization and extend to include the generous volunteer community that has taken membership with the Foundation. This level of administrative support is just as important as financial contributions from generous donors and FOH is grateful for the level of individual and corporate contributions made to date. Success is enabled by effective fundraising efforts, strong levels of community engagement, and continual grant funding to eligible non-profit and non-governmental organizations doing the legwork on the ground.

Foundation of Hope’s efforts are ultimately intended to help individual LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers, both as newcomers to Canada and across the world, in order to successfully accomplish its mission.

I can’t believe is already September! In the time since STRUT, our flagship fundraiser, we are thrilled to report that we are growing up fast as an organization and getting geared up for giving. And ’tis the season indeed, considering the looming refugee crises across the world, foremost of which has been escalating in Syria following the onset of the civil war and ensuing political turmoil in the Middle East.

The Syrian war was the initiate for FOH. Several of us were part of the original constituency group that sponsored two Syrian gay men to come to Canada. The Foundation emerged from that original Circle of Hope and through fundraising efforts and an online granting program, FOH has recently been formally approached to financially contribute to a growing movement known as Lifeline Syria. Sponsorship of LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers is one of two streams of funding that FOH offers.

Community services is the other stream of FOH grant funding. Foundation of Hope has been approached to assist with counselling services intended to help LBGT+ newcomers overcome emotional and psychological barriers associated with migration from their countries of origin. These are countries that denounce the right to freely express alternative forms of gender and sexual identity.

Moving forward, Foundation of Hope is actively accepting applications from eligible applicant organizations and is continually seeking individuals and organizations that are interested in contributing through volunteers efforts and as donors.

Contact Foundation of Hope today and consider becoming a member, either as a volunteer or through generous contributions. Or better yet both!

I recently accompanied a young Indian man to meet with Chris Morrissey at Rainbow Refugee’s drop-in session at Qmunity. He is looking at options that would prevent him from having to return to India, which has recently criminalized homosexuality, thereby putting him at risk of persecution. When his work visa expires, his family back home expects him to return and they intend to marry him off.

According to Morrissey, he has an option to file an in-Canada refugee claim, largely based on his country of origin due to the recent regressive legislation that directly jeopardizes homosexuals in India. The new law was recently instated under India’s criminal code. Family pressure to get married is one thing, but under this law, individuals have no recourse, since the state doesn’t support their sexual identities.

In the case of Indian LGBT+ individuals seeking asylum, chances for a successful refugee claim are improved in Canada. Claimants must first get a lawyer for the hearing. Legal aid is an option available to many that don’t have the means to finance themselves. They should feel comfortable being represented and will need to make sure they can prove their country of origin.

A great deal of planning and preparation goes into a refugee claim. It is necessary to supply evidence to support one’s sexual identity. Every written account and piece of supporting testimony must be consistent. Questions asked at hearings can be somewhat uncomfortable, partly because agents at the hearing will have to make a decision in writing. So they need to clearly understand the position and must document the evidence to support their decisions.

According to Morrissey, a refugee application to Canada also has a medical waiver (i.e., the individual does not have to meet the medical requirements that are otherwise necessary under general immigration protocol). Having some non-communicable medical condition such as cancer, diabetes, HIV,  etc… does not make it impossible to get a refugee claim, whereas applying for immigration as skilled worker with a disease automatically makes you medically ineligible.

“People often think they are ineligible based on these grounds and ‘self-select’ out”, stated Morrissey, founder of Rainbow Refugees Society. Any health-related issues that may exist can intuitively be perceived as a challenge to a successful claim; however, under India’s new law, Chris figures it could actually bolster a refugee claim. Perceptions of disease may put individuals exceedingly at risk of persecution in society, particularly due to India’s history as a caste society.

“Diseased people will be treated as untouchable within their own family, even though parents love their kids,” stated the young man who met with Chris. “It puts them under excessive pressure and improves the chances for making wrong decisions. Without any perceived love and support from family, how can they expect love and support from society?”

Every refugee claimant must have a reasonably well-founded fear of persecution.

“It is important to distinguish between persecution and discrimination”, noted Chris. An article under the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, of which Canada is a signatory, states that persecution is implicit if individuals cannot get state protection. Persecution is explicit in situations where the state has legally denounced certain sexual identities, such as in India.

April has been a landmark month for Foundation of Hope. On April 2, 2015 Canada Revenue Agency officially granted FOH its status as a registered charity. This means all donations made in Canada within six months prior to this designation, and from this point onward, are eligible for a tax credit.

Foundation of Hope anticipates this historic milestone will bolster its fundraising efforts to date leading up to STRUT, the first major event of 2015. So, either get those heels on and start practicing your walk or get to the event’s website and sponsor any one of the teams of courageous participants.

The generosity of those who have made financial contributions to date has also afforded FOH to begin awarding grants to eligible organizations. On April 6, 2015, FOH released the first chapter of its grant funding process, which is dedicated to Canadian civil society organizations providing community services to newly settled LGBT+ immigrants (newcomers). It is FOH’s mission to provide financial support that permits these organizations, many of which are volunteer-based, to continue to do the incredible work that first inspired the creation of FOH from a small group of dedicated volunteers.

So if you are a donor please consider giving to FOH. Your contribution means the world to us. If you are a community service provider and eligible for grant funding, check out our grant application today.

In the words of Margaret Mead,

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Words to live by.