KAIROS has released its advocacy Wish List for 2022. As Canada and the world grapple with multiple crises, including pandemic-related impacts and extreme weather events fueled by global heating, KAIROS calls on all levels of government in Canada to prioritize a just and equitable recovery.

Join us in calling on the Canadian government to hold Canadian companies accountable for human rights and environmental violations, particularly by supporting mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. 

Did you miss the KAIROS Gathering: 20 years of spirited action for justice in October? Or catch only some of it? We’ve got you covered! All plenaries and workshops are available on the KAIROS website!

Women of Courage is behind the microphone with the launch of its first podcast on December 10! Delivered quarterly, the podcast highlights the voices and work of KAIROS Women, Peace and Security partners. Our first episode – Building Equitable Partnerships for Gender and Ecological Justice – delves into KAIROS’ gender justice work and the benefits of collaborative partnerships with women-led grassroots organizations.

Would you like to host a Faithful Climate Conversation in your community this year, and require support? For the Love of Creation is offering several events in February to support you in facilitating small-group discussions on the climate crisis, including model conversations, training, and networking.

KAIROS, its member churches, and other church organizations sent an open letter to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court calling on him to re-open the investigation for crimes against humanity in the Philippines. The letter also urges Canada, as a state party to the Rome Statute, to publicly support the investigation and to provide knowledge or resources as needed.

KAIROS joined faith and justice communities around the world in mourning the loss and honouring the life and work of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who passed away on December 26, 2021.

At the end of 2021, KAIROS’ migrant-support partners in Ontario held dinners to show support and gratitude to the temporary foreign workers who play a vital role in Canada’s food sector.

February 14

The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society’s Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that calls on caring Canadians to help First Nations children grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. This year is Have a Heart Day's 10th year anniversary! 

Due to COVID-19, The Caring Society encourages teachers, students, families, and your household to celebrate the day in your classrooms, at home, or online! Find out more!

You are invited to join a series of KAIROS-hosted Ecumenical Migrant Justice Meetings in late February and in March to gratefully acknowledge the efforts of migrant workers and explore further collaboration. Church representatives and interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Visit the events page for details and join the Migrant Justice “Area of Interest” for updates. The “manage your subscriptions” link at the bottom of this email allows you to view and change your Areas of Interest.

Migrant Worker Solidarity Program at ACDR (Aids Committee for Durham Region) is one of 15 partners of KAIROS' Empowering Temporary Foreign Workers during COVID-19 project. In October, it hosted a feast at Uxbridge Nurseries farm for the employer and workers. Some workers brought out guitars and serenaded their employers and other attendees. The workers’ spokesperson expressed thanks to their employer and staff for their support. Special thanks to Francisco Carballo, the local SuperStore Manager, who brought bags filled with necessities and treats for the workers in appreciation for their hard work. 

Like KAIROS’ other project partners, Migrant Worker Solidarity Program at ACDR has supplied workers with welcome bags that include personal care equipment, language-appropriate resources, and non-perishable food items. Other services include information sessions, webinars, virtual workshops, and emergency assistance. Partners also visit farms and public spaces for outreach and service delivery.  

In December, approximately 40 women land defenders from various parts of Ecuador and members of the national network, Saramanta Warmikuna (Daughters of the Corn), gathered in Maikiuants, headquarters of the Shuar Arutam People - PSHA, in the province of Morona Santiago for a multi-day workshop and exchange organized by Acción Ecológica, a KAIROS partner.

The women shared stories about the impacts of resource extraction and the palm oil industry, and their experiences of resistance. They highlighted the importance of living in harmony with nature through the protection of forests, rivers, and ancestral knowledge, with the use of crafts, their own medicine, and food sovereignty, and sustaining an organizational process to resist activities that jeopardize this harmony. Expect more acts of resistance in 2022.