A story rooted in gratitude

humanKIND toronto was founded in 2017 by Ashifa Champsi with a simple but deeply personal intention: to give back.

After losing her parents at a young age, Ashifa returned to volunteering as a way of expressing gratitude for the support she had received during her own difficult seasons. What began as a quiet act of service soon grew into something more. She reached out to friends and trusted community members, women who shared a desire to serve, and together they formed a small circle committed to making a meaningful difference in their community.

Throughout that year, they met with local organizations and community committees across the Greater Toronto Area to understand where support was most needed. In those conversations, they discovered a gap within women’s shelters. Many women and children were arriving from situations of domestic abuse, trauma, and isolation. While essential needs were being addressed, there was also a need for consistent, heart-centered programming that nurtured healing, creativity, and connection.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person programming in 2020, humanKIND toronto faced one of its most defining moments. Rather than pause, the team chose to adapt.

Virtual workshops were introduced, including online art sessions and creative programming designed to continue supporting women and children remotely. This shift not only allowed the organization to maintain its commitment locally, but also expanded its reach across Ontario. Through virtual delivery, humanKIND toronto was able to offer workshops to shelters outside of Toronto, including all Ontario locations of Sakeenah Canada — something that had not previously been possible.

During this same period, community support grew significantly. Individuals and small businesses hosted fundraisers, donated proceeds from yoga classes and baked goods, and created handmade items in support of the mission. Social media became a powerful tool for connection and awareness, leading to invitations to share the organization’s story through live online conversations and participation in a documentary feature, The Need Never Stops.

In place of our annual drives, we launched new initiatives and kept families engaged with kits delivered to shelters:

• Feed A Woman. Feed A Child.
• Virtual programs
• Give the Gift of Hope
• Project Lunchbox
• Holiday cookie kits
• Activity kits
• Care kits
• Donating essentials

What could have been a season of pause instead became a season of resilience and expansion.

By the end of 2023, humanKIND toronto was delivering multiple programs across shelters in the Greater Toronto Area, creating consistent spaces where women and children could gather, create, reflect, and feel supported. The foundation of the organization was no longer just an idea; it was a growing community.

In the years that followed, humanKIND toronto continued to grow steadily and intentionally. Today, the organization offers six monthly programs across six shelters in the Greater Toronto Area, while also leading annual drives that provide essential resources to women, children, and youth in need.

What began in 2017 as one woman’s expression of gratitude has grown into a dedicated network of volunteers, partners, donors, and community members who believe deeply in showing up, consistently and compassionately.