As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, refugees in camps across the world are left particularly vulnerable and in need of assistance. Current dire camp conditions are only exacerbated by the threat of the contagious virus, and there is an extremely high risk of rapid spread (as seen in the exponential cases in Singapore's migrant dormitories). Combined with a serious lack of access to the adequate healthcare needed, and personal protection equipment, they are now more in need of our assistance than ever before. 

COLOURS' main focus is usually on supporting our local refugee/asylum seeker/newcomer community in Scotland. However, we could not stand by and, whilst we are currently incapable of running our usual events, we feel we need to act. Thus, we have launched our COVID-19 response campaign, 'Leave No One Behind', with the aim of raising £1000 for Choose Love/Help Refugees. 

WHY THIS CAUSE?
We have chosen Choose Love/Help Refugees specifically for their Coronavirus Emergency Appeal campaign, which has pledged every penny raised to: 
- Increase their support to medical organisations providing doctors and  nurses to those who have none
- Provide emergency isolation accommodation for the sick
- Distribute tens of thousands of bars of soap and bottles of hand sanitiser
(source: https://donate.helprefugees.org/campaigns/coronavirus-appeal/)

WHAT WE'RE DOING 
We will be running a special edition campaign, featuring:
- Awareness-raising blog posts centred around the effects of COVID-19 on the refugee and asylum seeker populations across the world, including: on their mental health, vulnerability in camps, migrant health workers, and already dangerous routes.
- Spotlighting good work being done by refugees and refugee-focused organisations in the UK.

We hope that, through this campaign, we will both help all of us privileged enough to be at home to understand the urgent help that they need, as well as stay true to our mission of challenging negative misconceptions of refugees and asylum seekers. 

WHO WE ARE ​
We are a student and graduate-led social enterprise working towards:

• Challenging negative misconceptions of refugees and asylum seekers through art, digital media, and educational events

• Aiding newcomer integration through creative community building

• Raising funds for local charities working to build better lives for refugees and asylum seekers

OUR MISSION 

To create a platform for newcomers seeking refuge to share their stories through art, research, and digital media in order to challenge negative misconceptions

Read more about us here: https://www.coloursedinburgh.co.uk/aboutus