AMSSA’s 2015 Riasat Ali Khan Diversity Award winning project, I Belong has received $7,500 from the Foundation of Hope.
With the generous support from the Foundation of Hope, I Belong will be able to continue providing one to one and group clinical counselling sessions to LGBTQ newcomers free of charge in 2017. The I Belong program has been recognized for its expertise and strengths in LGBTQ refugee trauma-focused services. I Belong is committed to addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ newcomers. It is the only program dedicated to LGBTQ newcomers and that is offered by an immigrant settlement organization in British Columbia.
Chad Wilkinson, Chair of the FOH Grants Committee, commented “President Carl Meadows and Vice-President Catarina Moreno were very happy to learn how the project is making a difference to the LGBT+ newcomer community in Metro Vancouver. It was great to see people coming from all over the Lower Mainland including Port Moody, Surrey and Coquitlam, to participate in the I Belong Project.”
Please contact I Belong at ibelong@mosaicbc.org for any questions and/or program schedules in 2017.
I Belong aims to support LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning) immigrant newcomers by facilitating discussions around sexuality, gender, race, culture, and class. To learn more, please visit mosaicbc.org/ibelong.
Foundation of Hope is a registered charity providing financial assistance to other Canadian charities actively supporting LGBT+ refugees and newcomers. To learn more, please visit foundationofhope.net.
