This International Women's Day, I'm raising £1500 for 5 brave women fleeing dreadful violence and oppression in their home country. Can you help them with food and rent this spring until they find freedom?

Sakina's bags are packed! In two weeks she’ll be at the airport. She looks at her airline ticket with amazement.

A few years ago, Sakina was due to be forcibly married to an older man to secure her father's business contracts. When she refused, Sakina was beaten, thrown down the stairs and a hot iron pressed to her knee. Sakina fled with her girlfriend to a neighbouring country, only to find herself penniless and in danger of exploitation.

Only a few miles away, two sisters, a lesbian women’s rights activist Salma and her educator sister Gulsum, received a death letter from a militia. Gulsum had been running a small school in her house for the neighbouring girls and Salma had been working for a women’s rights organisation. They had to flee their homes immediately but nobody would help them.

Over the border, two daughters buried their elderly mother. She had spent her last days helping Sussan and Marzia escape their home country after they were accused of immorality and given the choice of imprisonment or forced marriage. Now they were left alone in a foreign land with nowhere to go.

I’m raising funds for Hive RSA, a registered Canadian nonprofit, which creates pathways toward freedom, empowerment, and hope for women, LGBTQ+ people and human rights defenders. Hive supports new beginnings and helps people rebuild their futures.

Hive supported Sakina with rent and food for almost 4 years and helped her obtain sanctuary in Canada.

Hive helped Sussan and Marzia lodge an application for a community sponsorship place in Canada, paying their rent and bills in the meantime.

Currently Hive is assisting Salma and Gulsum to secure a pathway forward to Canada and helping them with secure accommodation so they will not suffer violence or death.

Funds are running low and times are hard, but can you help Hive cover rent and food costs over the next few months until they reach safety?

£20 (CAD $40, USD $27) will buy valuable phone credit for the month.

£30 (CAD $55, USD $40) can secure food for a week.

£50 (CAD $95, USD $70) can pay rent for a week.

Never think you can’t make a difference – every single penny is welcome!

This International Women’s Day, please help us change lives for the better.

Hive is registered under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act no.1698451-7

Photo posed by model