His name is Cal (not his real name but we like it!) and he is a young gay Palestinian man. Palestinian refugees first arrived in various parts of the Middle East as they fled from the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. Today, Palestinian refugees and their descendants don't have the same rights and resources as local citizens due to their legal status. Without formal citizenship, they have no social, political or economic liberties. Nor does Cal have the freedom to choose who he loves as in many parts of the Middle East gay love is under constant threat of persecution, torture or even death.

To complicate matters Cal has to leave the refugee camp where he was born to make his claim as a refugee outside of his camp and country of birth, a pathway to further insecurity.

The good news is that Cal has some wonderful people in his corner - Capital Rainbow Refuge (Ottawa), the Settlement Team at Quinte Rainbow and an amazing American Jewish professor who has dedicated his entire career serving and lifting others. And we would love to have you in Cal's corner too!

DONATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A CHARITABLE TAX RECEIPT and are used to support 1 year of private sponsorship for Cal. We currently have charitable contributions and in-kind donations that put us at about $15,000 of our $20,000 goal.  AND NOW WE HAVE MATCHING FUNDS UP TO $2000!   Thank you to Mitchel and our wonderful Hastings County couple!