The topic of personal safety, displacement, risk and protective factors, is always on the mind of our Founder Ceo, whether in Hackney or Sudan. Young people and their loved ones deserve to be safe from harm.
The reality is this. Most of the families we serve in East London are from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The continuous news of war, death and displacement brings a low state and often depression because we do not know how to help our family and friends in the midst of the danger.
We feel guilty for being safer and not having enough finances to help others can be crippling.
We want to give, but often, the finances we have are not large enough to help. We'd love to give to the larger charities doing amazing, credible things in wartorn countries, but this help is simply not directly helping those we know and care for.
This is where Safe Passage Friends can help.
Safe Passage Friends invites The Mentoring Lab community to come together to help a family member or friend in immediate need to escape conflict, war or genocide as safely as possible.
It is a fundraiser. Each year, we help those we can reach and bring awareness to our community of youth already deeply familiar with the refugee rights crisis, issues and the realities of being displaced.
Every mickle makes a muckle.
Every mickle makes a muckle is a Jamaican Proverb, meaning 'small things when combined one by one can have a big effect. It derives from the Scottish saying 'mony a mickle maks a muckle'.
By giving what you can on a regular basis, we can combine our financial resources and safe networks to help those we love and care for.
100% donation Policy.
Safe Passage Friends gives 100% of donations to those identified by our community.
Advocating for change.
Advocates for displaced people in ways that respect their dignity, privacy and personal agency, helping to heighten empathy and motivation to help by putting faces to the crisis.
All our efforts and storytelling are conducted in a sensitive manner so as not to endanger anyone.
Who are we supporting this year?
This year, we aim to raise £2000 to give Safe Passage to those whose lives are at risk because of the Sudanese War and genocide that started in April 2023.
We are supporting a mother (aged 40) of a 6-month-old child, whose husband left to find a safe passage out of Sudan, but has failed to return.
The rest of her family were able to escape the war in Sudan, finding refuge in Saudia Arabia, Egypt and here in the UK. But she is now trapped, with the fighting and ongoing ethnic cleansing threatening her life every day.
This woman, who for her own protection we will call Maryam, is connected to our TML Community and families living in Sudan, connected to The Mentoring Lab's community, whose lives are at risk because of the genocide and war that started in April 2023.
Where will your money go?
The £2000 will buy passport, transport, food and supplies for Maryam to leave Sudan Safely and take a safe passage to Saudia Arabia.
We fundraise for one person at a time. Hoping to be able to support the safe passage of at least 10 families each year.
But our support does not end.
Through our efforts, families will also connect the families we help with agencies coordinating temporary housing and resettlement, educational opportunities, mentoring, mental health support, language and job skills to aid integration.
Please donate whatever you can.