Every year, the GISH community unites to “Change A Life,“ making a profound difference in the lives of people facing extraordinary hardship. In the past, we’ve gathered our community to help Syrian refugees rebuild their lives, support a courageous team of women working to clear unexploded bombs from villages in Laos, and assist a farming co-operative of Rwandan genocide survivors working to feed their families — among the many other vital efforts the GISH community has helped to mobilize around people working to overcome tremendous adversity.
GISH Ambassador, photographer, and humanitarian Giles Duley has introduced many of these people to us through his Legacy of War Foundation. Despite losing his legs and one arm in an IED explosion a decade ago, Giles travels to the most remote regions of the world to share the stories of people thrust into unimaginable hardship, all in hopes that we can support their quest to build better lives.
In the chaos of conflict, marginalized people are among the most vulnerable; they are often left behind and suffer unimaginable hardship due to the ravages of war. Nowhere is this more true than the war zones of Ukraine. This year, Giles has been speaking to activists and organizations risking their lives to ensure the safety of people otherwise left unsupported by big aid agencies — people who have been left behind to fend for themselves in the direst of circumstances.
In partnership with Legacy of War Foundation and Random Acts, we’re setting a goal of raising $100,000 to assist LGBTQIA+ Ukrainians and Ukrainians with disabilities.
Create a fundraiser page here and get at least 10 donations of a minimum of $10. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU OR YOUR TEAMMATES TO DONATE. Rather, we ask that you reach out to the global community and your social networks to make a contribution. Then, submit a screenshot of your fundraiser showing 10 donations and the total amount donated to us for your points.
Your donations will fund Legacy of War Foundation’s work essential support to marginalized Ukrainians who have been displaced due to the effects of war. We are setting an initial goal of raising $100,000 for Legacy of War Foundation’s Ukraine Crisis Response (in partnership with Random Acts). This will enable us to fully fund two critical projects:
We will be funding a year-long “disability hub” in Ukraine to supply specialized wheelchairs and equipment. Many people with disabilities were focused to evacuate without vital supplies, and this is not merely impractical or uncomfortable: lacking the correct medical equipment or mobility aids can have a serious impact on health and wellbeing. These funds will enable us to get critical equipment at cost and, utilizing our network of volunteers and partner organizations, distribute the equipment where it is needed most.
But that’s not all: we will also be funding two shelters in Lviv, Ukraine — one for women, and one for LGBTQIA+ individuals. These marginalized groups are at particular risk in Ukraine as Russia overtakes their towns and their homes. We will be working with Women’s March and Insight, two reputable organizations with a long history of supporting these groups in Ukraine. LGBTQIA+ individuals’ lives are at particular risk as Russia invades due to their draconian stance on LGBTQIA+ rights, so the need for this help could not be more urgent. With your help, we’ll be able to provide shelter and support to 250 vulnerable Ukrainians for six entire months through these two shelters.
Please help us reach this important initial goal so we can ensure that no one is forgotten or left without the support they need to survive this brutal war.
DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX-DEDUCTIBLE (for countries other than the U.S., deductions are contingent on your laws). 90% of the donations will benefit the Change-A-Life efforts with 10% to Random Acts’ General Fund to further support random acts of kindness, like these, all over the world.