Thrive Refuge Concert for Peace

In 2022, Sasha Luchkov escaped Ukraine to complete his musical and educational endeavours in Canada with the support of Thrive Refuge’s Refugee Support Program. Now studying at the UBC School of Music, Sasha wanted to give back to his community by hosting the “Concert for Peace” to fundraise for the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC) to help others pursue their passions despite facing difficult realities.

With the help of ISSofBC, Thrive Refuge invited 50 newcomer refugees to the concert coming from South America, Asia, and Africa. For many of these refugees, this is their first time attending a concert; thus, we hoped that “The Concert for Peace” would serve as a warm welcome for these refugees who arrived in the past two weeks, marking a hopeful beginning to their new lives in Canada.

In a polarized society, Thrive Refuge has seen how art acts as a way to reignite connection when verbal communication fails. Artists have the power to transcend language barriers, connect us across different cultures, and most importantly, tell stories that would otherwise be left untold. For refugees, artistic expression can be a beacon of hope; it’s a chance to reconnect, to thrive, and to find peace amid a world of turmoil.

Thus, for this event, Isabelle Wang (Co-founder and Creative Director) created the “Installation for Peace” With a donation of ten dollars, individuals were able to receive a rose to add to the installation, becoming a part of Thrive Refuge’s ongoing legacy of fostering collective humanity through art and music. All proceeds have gone towards the Thrive Refuge Music and Fine Arts Bursary with ISSofBC.