THE FULL STORY
About
Shine a Lite is a network committed to providing help and support to Canadians in difficulty abroad, with a particular focus on complex cases of International Parental Child Abduction. The idea was borne from the very personal experience of the founder, Layan Bishtawi, a mother of three, bringing her children back from international parental child abduction in 2019. During a difficult and challenging journey, which lasted nearly two years of litigation in foreign courts, she recognised the challenges Canadians face when seeking consular assistance abroad. One of the main challenges faced, is the lack of clear information on the range of consular services available to them, eligibility criteria and application process.
This sparked the creation of this network aiming in providing support, guidance and information to Canadians in difficulty abroad navigate and understand the Canadian Consular Services process to access the assistance they need to resolve their case.
Our Mission
Shine a Lite is a network dedicated to supporting Canadian families affected by International Parental Child Abduction by providing resources and information to better navigate the consular service process, understand the scope of consular services available to them and help them request the assistance needed to resolve their situation.
What we do
Co
Consular Service Guidance: We Help Canadians understand the framework governing the Canadian consular service delivery process and the scope of services available to them in order to facilitate access to adequate assistance during a crisis.
Community Support: build a supportive community to help connect people of similar situations together to foster emotional support, sharing of experiences and practical advice.
Resource Connection: We connect families with resources, including government agencies, legal experts and support organizations.
Advocacy: We advocate on behalf of families affected by International Parental Child Abduction and who are in urgent need for consular assistance to ensure their voices are heard.
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