UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has announced a generous $1 million contribution from The Slaight Family Foundation. The two-year grant is dedicated to supporting women and girls in South Sudan who have been displaced by conflict and are in urgent need of protection and essential services.
The donation comes amid renewed conflict in early 2025 that has triggered fresh displacement within South Sudan, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. The country is also managing the arrival of refugees and returnees from neighbouring Sudan, as violence continues across the border. South Sudan now hosts more than 1.2 million displaced people, the majority of whom are women and children. Many face severe threats, including sexual violence, exploitation, and lack of access to basic services.
“Several Canadian organizations are delivering lifesaving international aid in crisis zones like Bangladesh, Yemen and South Sudan, and they need support now more than ever,” said Gary Slaight, President and CEO of The Slaight Family Foundation. “We hope this funding will help sustain access to health care, food, education and protection for the world’s most vulnerable.”
UNHCR has faced significant funding shortfalls, leading to a 75 per cent reduction in the number of safe spaces available for women and girls in South Sudan. As a result, up to 80,000 women and girls, including survivors of rape and other forms of violence, have been left without access to critical services, such as medical treatment, legal assistance, and psychological support.
“This gift comes at a critical moment,” said Tracey Maulfair, UNHCR Representative in Canada. “As humanitarian needs continue to rise and funding declines, this donation will help us protect some of the most vulnerable people in one of the world’s most underfunded crises.”
The grant will enable UNHCR to:
- Deliver specialised support and case management to survivors of gender-based violence, even in remote areas;
- Distribute dignity kits and menstrual hygiene products to thousands of women and girls;
- Equip a safe space for women and girls in Juba;
- Provide training to frontline staff and partner organisations on data collection and survivor assistance;
- Sustain a dedicated protection staff member to coordinate service delivery.
“Funding cuts are having a devastating impact,” said Marie-Hélène Verney, UNHCR Representative in South Sudan. “This contribution helps us bring back essential services for women and girls, but urgent, flexible funding is still needed for critical activities like registration and civil documentation. We hope this support will inspire broader solidarity with displaced communities across South Sudan.”
This donation forms part of a broader initiative by The Slaight Family Foundation to support 13 Canadian and international organisations responding to urgent humanitarian crises around the globe.
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.
We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
About The Slaight Family Foundation
The Slaight Family Foundation was established in 2008 by John Allan Slaight. Allan Slaight (1931–2021), known as Canada’s broadcast pioneer, was a leader in the music industry and a prominent Canadian philanthropist. Through his generosity, the Foundation proactively supports charitable initiatives in the areas of healthcare, at-risk youth, international development, social services and culture. Allan’s son, Gary Slaight, oversees the foundation as President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation.
With this gift, the Foundation has committed over $293M to 14 unique strategic initiatives since its inception. These initiatives include $50 million to five downtown Toronto hospitals to improve health services; $22 million for two initiatives with international NGOs to increase their capacity to address global poverty, the human rights of women and girls, and major diseases and disasters; $11 million to support the healthy development of Canadian children; $12 million to improve the physical, mental and social well-being of Canada’s Indigenous youth; $40 million for emergency food security, mental health supports and research related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; $15 million to support Canadian women and girls; $30 million for community-based seniors initiatives; $15 million to support the revitalisation of Toronto’s theatre community; $26.5 million to support youth experiencing mental health issues; $30 million for those suffering from dementia; $30 million to support people living with disabilities; and $13 million to provide emergency support to Canadian NGOs serving the world’s most vulnerable countries.
