About Us
Hope for Refugees International (HRI) is a Black LGBTQI+ refugee, and newcomer-led, gender-diverse grassroots organization based in Toronto and serving communities across Ontario.
Founded and led by Black African LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers, HRI exists to uplift Afro-Black and Caribbean LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers, including survivors of gender-based violence, so they can live with dignity, safety, equity, and opportunity in Canada.
Our organization was born out of lived experience. We understand the realities of forced displacement, systemic discrimination, and rebuilding life in a new country. We believe refugees are not passive recipients of support, they are leaders, innovators, and agents of change.
We are driven by an unwavering belief in humanity, human rights, equity, inclusion, diversity, and the inherent dignity and resilience of Black African and LGBTQ+ refugees and the world’s most vulnerable populations, regardless of their background or circumstances.Â
Our work is grounded in
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- Human rights and dignity
- Afrocentric and culturally affirming practices
- Trauma-informed and survivor-centered care
- Intersectionality and equity
- Community leadership and lived experience
We are committed to transforming vulnerability into resilience, isolation into belonging, and displacement into opportunity.
Why Our Work Matters
Black and LGBTQI+ refugees face multiple and intersecting barriers, including:
- Racism and anti-Black discrimination
- Homophobia, transphobia, and stigma
- Housing insecurity and homelessness
- Unemployment and economic exclusion
- Mental health challenges and trauma
- Gender-based violence and exploitationÂ
- Social isolation and lack of support networks
- Barriers to immigration protection and settlement services
HRI exists to address these systemic inequities and ensure refugees can rebuild their lives with dignity and opportunity.
Our Board of Trustees
Eddie Jjumba (He/Him)
Chairperson Board of Trustees
Annah Nassimbwa (She/Her)
Member
Mary Kinyanjui
Member
Our Staff
Lilian Aine Tusiime (She/Her)
Executive Director
Patrick King Mwesigye (He/Him)
Founder and Programs Director
Sydney Rashid (He/Him)
Community Engagement Coordinator
Martha Mugulusi (She/Her)
Coordinator Newcomer ServicesÂ
MarÃa José Puyol (She/Her)
Coordinator Marketing and CommunicationsÂ
Susan Njue Karimi (She/Her)
Case Worker
OUR MISSION
Through our unwavering commitment to humanity, we strive to create a world where every refugee can rebuild their life with dignity, and where our collective compassion knows no borders.
OUR VISION
We seek to create a world where refugees and displaced persons are not defined by their circumstances but are empowered to rebuild their lives, where humanity, dignity, and equality prevail, and where every individual has the opportunity to flourish.
OUR GOAL
To extend a compassionate hand to those who have been displaced by conflict, persecution, and hardship with a commitment to improving health care, achieving gender equality, defeating poverty, fighting inequality and climate change and advancing social justice.