In partnership with Love Without Borders for Refugees in Need, we will be hosting an in-person exhibition of original paintings by refugees on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00PM.  The event will be held at our office in Oakland, California.  The paintings will be available for purchase and all proceeds from the sale will go back to the refugee artist.  If you’re interested in joining, please RSVP at the link here. 

About Love Without Borders. LWOB is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering refugees living in camps in Greece.  It was founded in 2015 by Kayra Martinez, an American flight attendant of Greek origin. While volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece, Kayra had the idea to give the children art supplies so that they could draw and paint. She immediately noticed how the creative process calmed the children, and, over time, empowered them to process traumatic experiences. 

With the support of international donors, LWOB purchases art supplies from local vendors in Greece, which their volunteers then take to artists in nearby refugee camps.  Volunteers host workshops in their homes and tents in the camps where the refugees create beautiful pieces that are then transported to exhibitions around the world. One hundred percent of the profits from the sale of each piece of art is returned to the artist.

LWOB also coordinates immediate care for refugees, such as providing emergency food and temporary shelter, and locating missing persons. It works with American schools to raise awareness of the global refugee crises. 

Why We Support LWOB. Empowering refugees is near and dear to my heart. I first began working on behalf of refugees in 1994 as an intern for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) in Washington, DC. I returned to work for UNHCR in 1999 as a law student, and spent the summer in Bosnia when NATO was bombing Kosovo. Thousands of Kosovars arrived in Bosnia, and were housed in temporary reception centers. I visited camps in Bosnia to meet with refugees waiting for resettlement. It was clear to me then (and now) that simple gestures like bringing books, art supplies, and clothes to refugees waiting in camps can meaningfully ease the trauma of forced migration and displacement.

We’re excited to continue our partnership with LWOB, and we look forward to seeing you at the art show!  If you are unable to attend, you can see the paintings available for sale at Love Without Border’s Etsy shop.  If you would like to host an exhibition and/or make a contribution, more information is available here. 

Thank you for your support!