ReliefAid Canada

About ReliefAid

ReliefAid is a New Zealand founded charity specialising in delivering emergency humanitarian aid to families in conflict zones. Our headquarters in Canada are based in Montreal. We are currently delivering aid to families on the ground in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan. Founded in late 2014 by New Zealander, Mike Seawright, ‘aid that cannot wait’ captures our DNA; we do whatever it takes to get aid to those who others cannot, or will not, reach.

 

Aid Distributions

ReliefAid Canada provides lifesaving aid to families in need living in conflict zones. Through our dedicated team and generous supporters, we have been able to:

Distribute emergency relief supplies to conflict zones and disaster-affected areas.

Provide food, water, shelter, and medical supplies to displaced families.

Support education initiatives and rebuild community and housing infrastructure.

Our efforts have reached thousands of individuals and families, offering hope and support in their time of greatest need.

You can find out more about our aid distributions in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan on our New Zealand website here.


 

Governance

Canada Representative and Adviser

 

Peter Cafaro

Peter Cafaro serves as ReliefAid’s Canada representative and adviser. His expertise and commitment have been instrumental in expanding our reach and impact from NZ to Canada.

Peter is an entrepreneur and businessman well known in his community of Montreal with a long history of supporting philanthropic missions in Canada as well as in a number of countries located in South America and Southeast Asia.  His focus has always been to fulfil the basic humanitarian needs of underprivileged children but when the war in Ukraine started, Peter directed his help towards this region.

Determined to make a difference to families caught in this crossfire of war, Peter heads up ReliefAid’s office in Canada.

 

Board Members

Anton Frima

As a trained civil engineer, Anton started his humanitarian career with Doctors without Borders (MSF) in 2007. In charge of operational logistics both in Somalia and Pakistan, Anton worked side by side with ReliefAid’s founder Mike Seawright in supporting medical emergency programmes.

Since then, Anton has remained active in the humanitarian field as a Human Resources specialist both in Amsterdam and Montreal.

Having moved to Canada in 2016, Anton became an engaged fundraiser and ambassador for ReliefAid and has run several ultra marathons to raise funds and awareness of ReliefAid in Canada. He introduced ReliefAid to the Quebec based Bromont Ultra running event, a partnership that is still very much active today.

Mike Seawright

Mike Seawright

Since leaving the corporate world behind 17+ years ago, Mike Seawright has been delivering humanitarian assistance to families living in the world’s conflict zones. He has provided medical aid in Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan and Pakistan, economic development and energy projects in Afghanistan and most recently emergency humanitarian aid, leading multiple interventions in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Frustrated that not enough was being done to help families affected by war and conflict Mike founded ReliefAid. With a simple vision of helping families who had no one else to turn to, ReliefAid has delivered life-saving aid to over 300,000 people in war-torn Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, and they are not stopping there.

Read and hear Mike in the media.


Support from Cafaro Group

The ReliefAid representative office in Canada has been generously provided pro-bono by our supporter, the Cafaro Group. This invaluable support has enabled us to operate efficiently and focus our resources on delivering aid.


How to Donate

Supporting ReliefAid is easy. You can donate via Stripe using the button below or you can support us by making a transfer to our bank account using the details below.

Your contributions are vital in helping us continue our work and make a difference in the lives of those affected by conflict and disaster.

Donate Now

Alternatively, please contact us to make a donation through other channels.


ReliefAid involvement in Canada

ReliefAid Canada is actively involved in several events and initiatives, including:

Bromont Ultra
Supporting marathons and ultra-marathons to raise funds for our projects.

Ukraine Marathon

On 1 September 2024, Bromont Ultra ambassador, actress, and ultramarathoner Anne-Lise Nadeau completed a marathon in Irpin to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and to support ReliefAid’s efforts to rebuild homes in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Nikopol.

Read more on Anne-Lise’s marathon in Ukraine here.

Canadian supporters:

The Birks Family Foundation

Canada Ukraine Foundation
Collaborating on initiatives to aid those affected by the conflict in Ukraine.


Fundraising images

 

Aid Distributions


Tax Status

ReliefAid Canada (RAC) is recognized as a tax-deductible organisation by the Canada Revenue Agency
(CRA 707592754RR0001)

Donations made by Canadian residents are eligible for tax deductions.


Links and Contact

For more information about our work and how to get involved, visit our New Zealand page. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us at [email protected]