Eddie and Carolina

Please don’t come bearing gifts. We really won’t be able to bring anything back with us except good memories.

Your presence is the biggest gift you could bring anyway - or musical contributions (instruments or playlists!) or jokes, slam poetry.....

As an alternative to material or monetary gifts for us, we would like to encourage those who feel so inclined, to pass forward your good wishes to organisations that work for causes close to our hearts - which, as most of you may know , is inclusive, equitable and quality education for all, and working to support those who have been forced to flee their homes all over the world.

If financial contributions are not possible for you right now, take time to step out of your comfort zone, find out what is going on in your neighbourhood… or at the nearest migrant detention centre near you, or volunteer your time to help newcomers who may be settling in your area…or any other meaningful contribution to your neighbourhood or those who cannot as easily up and travel on a passport as most of us can.

Or just continue being your kind, welcoming, open minded beings you are already are.

Some organisations we would like to highlight from near our respective areas of upbringing are:

IN TEXAS 
1. The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)
https://www.raicestexas.org/
https://www.raicestexas.org/take-action/volunteer/

2. Refugee Services Texas
www.rstx.org

IN OTTAWA/ONTARIO
1. Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organisation : https://ociso.org/

2. Sitti Soap: A social enterprise supporting Palestine refugee women that works to educate, employ and empower the community’s women and girls from Jerash Refugee Camp, Jordan. Sitti soap is also supplying our celebration gifts for our friends and family.
https://sittisoap.com/

3. WUSC: www.wusc.ca

4.  Parents for Diversity
If you’re looking for diverse educational resources, please check out this parents collective started by dear friends of mine working to strengthen inclusive and equitable classrooms in the Ottawa area and beyond. Contact them to see how you could help or contribute : https://www.parentsfordiversity.com/