When Others Step Back, WUSC Monthly Donors Step Forward
“I give monthly because I wanted to do more than react. I wanted to show up — consistently — for youth rebuilding their lives.”
That’s what Paul told us recently. He and his wife, Elly, have been monthly donors to WUSC since 2006. Eighteen years of steady, purposeful giving. Eighteen years of showing up.
And they’re not alone.
Joan, who joined WUSC’s International Seminar in Ghana back in 1957, has been giving monthly since 2007. “As soon as I was able after graduating from university, I tried to support WUSC financially,” she said. “Eventually, I became a monthly donor, even with a small amount, as soon as I could manage it along with other charitable donations monthly.”
Joan’s been part of WUSC’s story for nearly seven decades. She’s seen the organization evolve, adapt, and grow — and she’s stayed with us through it all. “It has been important to me to see how WUSC and its programmes have developed and changed as the world has changed,” she said. “I have always been particularly interested in the support given to girls and young women.”
Her commitment is deeply personal. One of her daughters spent time in Mali with Canada World Youth and has since dedicated her career to working with women around the world.
“I’m not sure that such a small monthly contribution does much,” Joan admitted, “but it adds up over time. And if more people gave…the impact would be much greater.”
She’s right. It does add up. And it makes a big difference.
Every month, donors like Joan, Paul, and Elly help open doors for young people around the world — doors that would otherwise remain closed.
Like the door that opened for Fardos, a young woman living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Not long ago, she had never touched a computer. But thanks to the Digital Skills Hub — supported by donors like you — she learned transcription, digital marketing, and launched her own clothing business. “I never thought I could do something like this,” she said. “But now, I feel like I can do anything.”
That’s the power of monthly giving. It creates stability in a world that’s constantly shifting. And that stability makes growth possible.
It’s what allowed Adele and Jean-Marie — two refugee entrepreneurs in Kenya — to build Peace House Enterprise, a tailoring business that now employs 26 people and trains 50 students. And it’s what helped Yom Magot, who resettled and continued her studies in Canada with the Student Refugee Program, pursue biomedical engineering at UBC with dreams of developing medical technologies for underserved communities.
These stories didn’t happen by chance. They happened because someone believed in something better. Someone like you.
Paul put it this way: “Giving monthly is easy. It is predictable for us as donors, and at the same time WUSC can count on us in their revenue forecasts and program planning.”
He’s seen the impact from both sides — as a former Local Committee member, and later as WUSC’s Executive Director. “As a former Executive Director, I know how volatile other sources of revenue can be,” he said. “Monthly gifts send a vote of confidence in WUSC’s work and can be directed to a specific priority or to greatest need.”
That kind of steady support doesn’t just fund programs — it multiplies our impact. It helps us plan ahead, launch multi-year initiatives, and respond quickly when urgent opportunities arise. It also helps us unlock additional funding from governments and partners who want to see that reliable foundation in place.
Paul and Elly still respond to special appeals, but monthly giving is their anchor. “It’s a practical affirmation of hope,” Paul said. “It helps clarify and prioritize our giving intentions. And it can be adjusted if personal circumstances change.”
Joan echoed that sentiment. “It’s good for one to feel that one has even a small share in helping make the world a better place.”
That sense of shared responsibility — of community — is what makes being part of WUSC’s network so meaningful. Monthly donors aren’t just supporters. They’re partners. They’re the foundation that allows us to say yes to the next student, the next entrepreneur, the next young leader.
And if you’re already one of them — thank you.
If you’re not yet a monthly donor, we hope you’ll consider joining this extraordinary community. Whether it’s $10, $25, or whatever feels right for you, your monthly gift will help young people thrive and belong — every month of the year.
In troubling times, many choose to step back. But when globally minded advocates like you step forward, you help refugee youth achieve their greatest potential and contribute their talents to their communities and workplaces.