Ottawa and Montréal, November 2025 — Resilient Societies, in collaboration with Cooperation Canada, is proud to announce a $300,000 multi-year grant from the Euphrosine Foundation. This investment will help advance Resilient Societies’ mission to protect civic space, strengthen democracy, and amplify the voice, agency, and power of human rights defenders from closed and closing environments around the world.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to reinforcing Canada’s civic and democratic ecosystem—one that values inclusion, collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas—and to ensuring that Canadian civil society remains connected to global efforts to safeguard civic freedoms.

“We are deeply grateful to the Euphrosine Foundation for this transformative partnership,” said Maiwand Rahyab, Founder and CEO of Resilient Societies. “This support will strengthen Resilient Societies as a relevant and impactful actor in Canada’s democracy ecosystem, while advancing our mission to protect civic space and empower those defending it globally.”

“This partnership exemplifies how Canadian philanthropy and civil society can come together to defend democracy,” said Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada. “By connecting domestic and global civic actors, we are reinforcing Canada’s role as a leader in fostering inclusive, democratic societies.”

“Canada’s democracy is facing real challenges. People who have lived through restricted civic environments bring insight we cannot afford to overlook,” said Niamh Leonard, Executive Director of the Euphrosine Foundation. “Resilient Societies ensures that Canada benefits from the expertise of human rights defenders from closed and closing states.”

Through this partnership, Resilient Societies will advance initiatives that contribute to a stronger, more inclusive Canadian democracy—one that learns from, and stands in solidarity with, civic movements and democratic actors worldwide.