SAFE was born in response to Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, a spontaneous and small community initiative formed on a kitchen table conversation. It took 'it takes a village' approach to make SAFE truly an engaged community organization, with StFX group for SAFE playing a critical role in raising resources and awareness. It has been a remarkable humbling and learning story ever since. 

A small drop in the bucket of global refugees challenge, with an estimated 105 million displaced and refugee status people on our world, SAFE has continued to welcome new families, now acquiring the status as a SAH (Sponsorship Agreement Holder) with the the Federal Government of Canada (IRCC), only SAH in rural Nova Scotia. In addition to bringing families on its own, SAFE now partners with several Sponsorship Groups across North-Eastern NS, to bring in new families, including some from Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan.

SAFE continues to be completely Volunteer based organization, with 10 members on the Steering Committee, and several dedicated, amazing volunteers spread across Inverness and Pictou region on NS. Its real work starts after the families arrive - working with them to settle down successfully in their new home, Canada. The community of Antigonish has welcomed new families with open arms  -  kids in school, new businesses, learning English language, accessing and navigating our health system, and most importantly perhaps, adding to the colors of diversity in our corners of rural Nova Scotia.