Lamp Lifeboat Ladder Portfolio

L A M P L I F E B O AT L A D D E R

Lamp Lifeboat Ladder A Pro Bono Program Of Reed Smith LLP Resettling survivors of sexual gender-based violence from countries where they are at risk to countries where they may heal and rebuild their lives.

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L A M P L I F E B O AT L A D D E R

Impact Le g a l Wo r k

P rot ec t io n

Re se t t le m e nt

Representing women fleeing forced marriage, domestic violence, sex trafficking, forced prostitution and other forms of gender-based harm.

Creating humanitarian pathways to safety for women and girls fighting to rebuild their lives.

Partnering with the Government of Canada to bring women at risk to safety.

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Innovation G lob a l

H o list ic

P ublic - P r iv a t e

Lamp Lifeboat Ladder supports women at risk on three continents, providing protection from point of flight to point of recovery in a safe country.

Protection includes shelter, food, access to emergency medical care, and psychosocial support at every step on a woman’s journey.

The program is a collaboration between Canada, Reed Smith, and NGO partners. It is funded by Reed Smith, charitable foundations, and individual donors.

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Women in the Program

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Fabiola Born in Cameroon and forced to flee violence in her country, Fabiola is now living in Canada.

She dreams of becoming a journalist.

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Niclette Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to flee violence in her country, Niclette is now in Canada where she dreams of working as a caregiver for elders.

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Slha Born in Sudan and forced to flee violence in her country, Slha is now in Canada where she dreams of living in peace with her children.

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Kobra Kobra fled violence in Iran.

She is now living in Canada where she dreams of studying fashion design and opening a boutique.

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Kefaya Kefaya suffered violence in Iraq causing paraplegia. She is now in Canada where she dreams of opening her own hair salon.

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Lidy Lidy fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is now in Canada where she dreams of working in the field of early childhood education.

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Nagham Born in Syria and forced to flee war in her country, Nagham is in Canada where she dreams of becoming a nurse.

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Fatima Fatima is an Afghan woman who suffered violence in Iran.

She dreams of continuing her studies in chemistry and working as a scientist.

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A 20 Year History

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Reed Smith has been fighting to protect refugee women for over 20 years, first in North America, and later in Europe and the Middle East.

In the Canada program, the firm is teaming up with the World Refugee & Migration Council, the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture, Crossroads Clinic, Doctors without Borders, and many others across the globe.

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Fosoul Born in Syria and forced to flee war in her country, Fosoul is now in Canada where she dreams of opening a restaurant.

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Arlette From Cameroon and forced to flee gender-based violence in her country, Arlette is in Canada where she dreams of opening a boutique.

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Angham Angham fled the war in Syria as a young girl. She is now in Canada where she dreams of continuing her education and opening a business.

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Fati Born in Iran of Afghan origin, Fati fled forced marriage. She is now in Canada where she is a yoga teacher and runner. She dreams of using yoga to help women who have suffered violence heal from trauma.

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Muzan Born in Sudan and forced to flee war in her country, Muzan is now living in Canada. She dreams of becoming a doctor.

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Masumeh Masumeh was forced to flee violence in Iran. She is now in Canada where she is part of the Lamp Lifeboat Ladder running team. She loves art, music and dance.

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Survivor Experts

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Lamp Lifeboat Ladder is shaped by survivors in the program. Their experiences and needs define the priorities. Survivors chose the name Lamp Lifeboat Ladder, which is inspired by a Rumi poem.

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Ahlam Born in Syria and forced to flee war in her country, Ahlam is now living in Canada. She dreams of completing her degree in Chinese studies and opening a business.

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Rachel Rachel was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to flee violence, she is now in Canada where she dreams of going to college.

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Zahra Zahra was born in Sudan where she ran a women’s rights organization. Forced to flee violence, she is now in Canada where she dreams of starting an NGO to help women refugees.

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May May was born in Syria. Forced to flee war as a child, she is now in Canada where she dreams of continuing her education.

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Jacky Jacky was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to flee violence as a child, she is now in Canada where she dreams of going to high school and one day opening her own business.

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Marwa Marwa fled the war in Syria as a young girl. She is now in Canada where she dreams of continuing her education.

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Building Community

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Writing The Lamp Lifeboat Ladder writing group provides a safe space for creativity, expression and healing. in 2022, a group of 29 writers produced a collection of prose and poetry called the Dreams Journal.

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Running The Lamp Lifeboat Ladder running team includes 35 runners from 9 countries. Training together is a way of creating community, healing from trauma, and building strength.

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Dreaming Established in 2020, the Dream Girls are young women who support each other before, during and after their journey to Canada. They define the goals of their group, which include access to safety, education, community-building and healing.

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Reflections of Survivors Today, my heart is as big as the sea and my dreams as big as the sky. I feel that my soul is free to go wherever it wants.

I feel like I have been released from the cage of my childhood.

You are the ones who lit up my life again, despite my sadness and torment in the world. You are the ones who made me strong. I take my strength from you.

The running team is like a family to me. I feel safe with the team and running helps me to feel stronger after everything I have endured.

Fati

Kefaya

Masumeh

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L A M P L I F E B O AT L A D D E R

Reflections of Volunteers The continuity of care Lamp Lifeboat Ladder provides before, during and after women arrive in Canada is critical to the sense of security they so desperately need.

Lamp Lifeboat Ladder stands apart because they are building relationships. The women I have supported have been through a lot of trauma. It is key to have someone emotionally and physically there.

It is heartening to hear the sentiments of survivors who want to make lives better, not only their own but for others as well.

They are so thankful to be part of this special program.

Cindy O’Brien

Iniyal Inparajah

Dennis Bradley

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L A M P L I F E B O AT L A D D E R

Waiting for Protection Lamp Lifeboat Ladder is the world’s only end-to-end resettlement program providing refugee women wrap-around support from point of identification in flight to point of healing in a safe country.

Dozens of women who have escaped sexual gender-based violence are waiting to resettle in Canada through the program. Many of these women are caring for children conceived through violence. Yet they are trapped in transit countries where they remain at grave risk.

By teaming up with Lamp Lifeboat Ladder, all of us can help these women travel to safety, access rehabilitation, and rebuild their lives in Canada.

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Iraqi artist Al Amin created all the paintings in this portfolio for the Lamp Lifeboat Ladder program.

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Protecting Women at Risk I would strongly encourage anyone in a position to support Lamp Lifeboat Ladder to do so.

They are working with some of the world’s most complex patients and play a significant role in helping people overcome their trauma.

Meb Rashid, MD Women’s College Hospital University of Toronto 40