2024 Highlights

In Nature Throughout Our Nature

Date: 12 - 14 June 2024
Location: Montreal, Quebec

This transformative community camping event brought together LGBTQ+ individuals who fled or immigrated to Canada from Arabic-speaking regions. Designed to foster a sense of belonging and mutual support, the program provided participants with a safe and welcoming outdoor experience. Over the course of two days, attendees engaged in a mix of nature exploration and cultural storytelling around a campfire, accompanied by Arabic music, nature walks, swimming, games, barbecuing, dancing, and more.

The program was thoughtfully designed and implemented by Kawn Bader for 27 individuals, free of charge, under the banner of Mubaadarat, a collective for LGBTQ+ Arabic speakers in Canada. The initiative was enriched with awareness sessions facilitated by AGIR, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees in Montreal. Generous contributions made this event possible, including food provided by Midnight Kitchen and Euphorie dans le Genre, and a donated camping site from a supportive benefactor.

WANASA MTL

Date: 13 April 2024
Location: Brique par Brique, Montreal, Quebec

On the occasion of Arab Heritage Month, Kawn Bader designed and implemented the event Wanasat MTL for the collective Mubaadarat, in collaboration with Sijil. The event showcased the talents of eight LGBTQ+ Arab artists, including singers, dancers, and storytellers. The name Wanasa, derived from Al-Wanis, evokes a sense of familiarity and companionship—a companionship that becomes an even more urgent need in exile, offering solace and strength during challenging times.

Wanasa was created as a space to foster connections and solidarity, emphasizing the importance of uniting in the face of difficulties and overcoming them together. This free event successfully hosted 116 attendees, celebrating culture, resilience, and the power of community.

Q&T HAMAM

Date: 8 March 2024
Location: Montreal, Quebec

In the spring season, Kawn Bader initiated and implemented a unique event for Mubaadarat, where a hammam was fully booked and made private for 11 Trans and Queer Arab individuals. This event provided a friendly and safer space for participants to gather, relax, and reconnect with their bodies and minds in an environment where they could feel secure and embraced for who they are.

The traditional hammam experience included various services, such as self-body scrubbing or scrubbing by a professional in a private area, access to a communal shower area, a steam room, individual shower seating, a changing area, and a relaxing lounge for unwinding after the hammam. This thoughtfully curated event allowed participants to enjoy the cultural richness of a traditional hammam in a supportive and affirming setting.

Me & My Sexuality

Date: 14 January - 7 April 2024
Location: online

A program designed and delivered by the specialist of Suroon Healing in collaboration with Kawn Bader for the Mubaadarat collective. This 8-session program was conducted in Arabic and delivered online, creating a culturally and linguistically accessible space for participants.

The program guided eight LGBTQ+ Arab participants on a meaningful journey through various topics related to sexuality. With a focus on education, self-discovery, and empowerment, the sessions fostered a supportive environment where participants could explore and better understand their identities and experiences.