Members of the Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib presented Sophie’s Place Child & Youth Advocacy Centre with a cheque in the amount of $18,000 from funds raised at the event In Remembrance of Sahibzaade.
The Sahibzaade event is an annual event celebrating two very courageous and strong young boys, martyred at the age of nine and six over 300 years ago. They were tortured for refusing to renounce their religion. The brothers are among the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.
Sophie’s Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (named after our patron, Sophie Tweed-Simmons), allows children and youth aged 0-18 to report their experience of physical, mental or sexual abuse in a child-friendly space where they feel safe and welcome. Since 2012, our trained staff and law enforcement professionals have worked to ensure the children who come to us are heard, and their families have the support they need.
“We are humbled with the generosity of the temple and are privileged to know how much our work at Sophie’s Place honours this celebrated story of bravery and courage” says Judy Krawchuk, Director of Sophie’s Place.
With 1 in 3 Canadian girls, and 1 in 6 Canadian boys being sexually abused before they reach adulthood, Sophie’s Place gives children a place to go where they can express what’s happened to them in a child friendly, safe environment. Since opening, over 500 children have been supported by Sophie’s Place.