PEN Canada Emergency Fund for Writers-in-Peril
When writers around the world find themselves in danger, they know they can come to PEN centres for help. PEN Canada receives multiple requests per year from writers-in-peril who need assistance, and the number of requests is only increasing.
This dedicated fund can be quickly mobilized to provide one-time emergency grants in three key areas:
• Transportation for writers fleeing violence
• Settlement and immigration costs
• Medical expenses related to persecution
Meeting requests for financial help is integral to the mission and vision of PEN Canada.
To donate to PEN Canada’s emergency, complete the form below and click on the drop down menu to direct your donation to the Emergency Fund:
Testimonials
I currently reside in Canada, an exile who has fled harassment, discrimination, humiliation, persecution and censorship back in Kenya, my homeland, due to my sexuality and my art. Fortunately, my partner and I were able to obtain emergency assistance from PEN Canada. That assistance helped us start the long process of building new lives here in Canada, and we are grateful to PEN, and every person and foundation that enables it to help writers and artists like us.
– Grace Munene, Kenyan activist and songwriter
PEN’s bigger impact: the PEN Emergency Fund
Established in 1971, the PEN Emergency Fund (PEF) offers discreet financial assistance to writers whose freedom of expression has been restricted by threats or harassment, particularly to those who face exile, imprisonment, or need urgent medical care.
The fund is supported by various organizations and PEN centres around the world. Working with a board of dedicated volunteers, the PEN Secretariat, and experienced investigators, the PEF minimizes overheads and bureaucracy to review applications and provide emergency funding as quickly as possible. In 2019 and 2020 alone, it successfully helped 65 individuals.