Get Involved

Every single day, LGBTQI+ people around the world face inequality, violence, torture, and even execution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. Today, 70 countries around the world criminalize same-sex relations and seven countries punish same-sex relations with the death penalty.

Navigating the refugee system is overwhelming and no easy task, taking significant amounts of energy, time, and money. Once a person has been granted refugee status, they often face increased difficulties establishing themselves in their newfound community. For example, language barriers, financial worries, mental health issues that may arise from fleeing.

You can support RRANS’s work through donating, volunteering, and getting involved in private refugee sponsorship.

Donate

How to Donate:

  • Canada Helps: Secure online donations can be made through the Canada Helps platform, including monthly recurring donations.

  • Squarespace: One time donations can also be processed directly through our website.

  • Cheque: We also accept donations via cheque. Please visit our contact us page, or reach out to us via email, for more information about donating by cheque.

What will your donation cover?

RRANS’s Mission of making possible LGBTQI+ refugee resettlement and sponsorship is made possible through the generous contributions and support of community members and organizations.

RRANS provides financial support to LGBTQI+ refugees that we sponsor for their first 12 months in Canada, as well as settlement support during these 12 months and beyond. It costs RRANS approximately $15,000 to sponsor an LGBTQI+ refugee. Donations go directly towards providing financial support to sponsored individuals, and facilitating the resettlement and integration of LGBTQI+ refugees.

This $15,000 covers a number of essential things for a newcomer during the first 12 months of settlement in Nova Scotia. RRANS provides a monthly support payment to cover a newcomer’s living expenses, including housing (rent and utilities), food, clothing, medications and personal care products, cell phone and internet costs. As well, we provide start-up funds on arrival for a newcomer to partially furnish their new home, purchase clothing and personal care products, pay for a security deposit, and any other essential things that we are unable to source through community donations.

Additional to the $15,000 cost of directly sponsoring an individual, RRANS incurs other indirect settlement costs, including wages for our Settlement Coordinators who provide settlement support, systems navigation, and create and oversee Circles of Care to provide additional settlement support and community connections for LGBTQI+ newcomers we work with.

RRANS is a registered charity with the CRA, and will provide tax receipts for all donations made over $20.

Volunteer with Us!

Fostering safer and welcoming communities requires the support of community members. Volunteers at RRANS play a critical role in refugee resettlement, assisting our work through participating in ‘Circles of Care’ with newly arrived LGBTQI+ refugees. Some volunteers also assist with other duties including fundraising, events support, and by joining the Board of Directors.

What is a Circle of Care?

We create a group of volunteers to assist with supporting each newly arrived LGBTQI+ refugee. Circle of Care volunteers are asked to commit to supporting individuals through their first 12 months in Nova Scotia by providing social and community support, connecting newcomers to the community.

Circle of Care volunteers receive training around cultural awareness, trauma-informed care, and working in settlement.

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are interested in volunteering with RRANS, please reach out to info@rrans.com.

Sponsorship

LGBTQI+ Refugee Sponsorship is a powerful way to make a direct impact, providing the necessary funds and support to help individuals resettle to Canada.

If you have a group of at least 5 volunteers, or are apart of a community organization, and want to learn more about how to directly participate in private refugee sponsorship, reach out to us. RRANS can assist with training, resources, information about how sponsorship processes work, and connecting you with people abroad in need of support.

Reach out to info@rrans.com for more information about private refugee sponsorship.