Making visible the hidden network of care that holds our communities together
In the quiet moments between classes, while other students grab coffee or check social media, some of our peers are texting to check on a parent’s medication schedule, arranging childcare for the evening, or mentally preparing for the caregiving responsibilities waiting at home. These students navigate a complex dance between their educational aspirations and their deep commitment to caring for others—yet their stories often remain invisible.
That’s about to change.
A Title Born from Resilience
When our SOCW 4520 class was brainstorming titles for our upcoming forum, we reached out to Facebook to finalize the five choices we selected. One of my Facebook friends offered a suggestion that stopped us in our tracks: “Invisible No More.” Her reflection was profound—this phrase strikes our class as “such a strong reflection of both your Indigenous and Ukrainian students. Both groups overcame years of attempts to erase them as a people. Both emerged more committed than ever to celebrate their ancestral gifts, to reclaim what had been stolen, and to celebrate their unique and beautiful identity.”
The class unanimously chose her suggestion, adding the powerful subtitle: “Bringing together those who Give Care and those who Care to Give.”
This title captures everything we hope to achieve—visibility, recognition, and the creation of a supportive community that bridges caregivers with those ready to support them.
The Heart of the Matter
At Thompson Rivers University, we’re witnessing something remarkable. Our SOCW 4520 summer class, dedicated to learning how to educate for social change, has taken on an ambitious project: creating the Love Care Share Scholarship Fund. These students understand that real change happens when we move beyond awareness to action, beyond recognition to support.
The statistics tell part of the story, but the human experiences tell it all. Students are:
- Parenting children while pursuing degrees
- Caring for aging parents or grandparents
- Supporting siblings with disabilities or mental health challenges
- Helping partners through illness or recovery
- Volunteering as respite care workers
- Translating at community health clinics
- Supporting peers through crisis
Their caregiving takes countless forms—from helping a foster sibling adjust to a new home, to being a live-in caregiver for a grandparent, to supporting a loved one transitioning genders. Some provide care through formal volunteer roles, others through the informal but essential network of family and community support.
More Than Financial Support
The Love Care Share Fund isn’t just about money—though financial support is crucial. It’s about creating what we call “an architecture of care” that includes:
Recognition: Publicly honoring caregiving as valuable, skilled work
Flexibility: Allowing students to share their stories through writing, audio, artwork, or video
Choice: Respecting students’ decisions about privacy while offering opportunities for visibility
Community: Building connections between caregivers and creating ongoing support networks
Stories That Need Telling
The forum will feature guest speakers sharing their authentic caregiving experiences. They’re honest accounts of love in action, care without condition, and the strength found in sharing.
We need these stories because they reveal truths our educational systems often miss:
- That caregiving develops incredible skills—crisis management, emotional intelligence, advocacy, multitasking
- That students who care are often the most resilient, empathetic future professionals
- That supporting caregivers isn’t charity—it’s investing in people who already know how to make communities stronger
A Collective Act of Justice
This forum represents what we call “a collective act of recognition and justice.” For too long, caregiving has been invisible labor, predominantly performed by women, people of color, and those from working-class backgrounds. When students carry these responsibilities while pursuing education, they’re often penalized rather than supported.
The Love Care Share initiative flips that script. Instead of asking caregivers to hide or minimize their responsibilities, we’re asking: How can we structure education to honor and support the full reality of students’ lives?
Join the Movement
Monday, June 16, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Thompson Rivers University – House of Learning, HOL 190
Whether you’re a caregiver, know someone who is, or simply believe in creating more caring educational environments, your presence matters. Come to listen, to witness, and to help us envision a future where care is celebrated rather than hidden.
We’re still seeking guest speakers who want to share their stories. If you or someone you know balances education with caregiving responsibilities, we’d love to hear from you.
Beyond the Forum
This event is just the beginning. We’re building something larger—a cultural shift that recognizes caregiving as valuable work, supports students who provide care, and creates educational environments that honor the full complexity of students’ lives.
The Love Care Share Fund will provide ongoing financial support and recognition. But more than that, it will create a community of caregiving ambassadors who can mentor others, advocate for policy changes, and ensure that future students never have to choose between caring for others and caring for their own educational dreams.
How to Get Involved
- Attend the forum and be part of this historic conversation
- Share your story or encourage others to apply as guest speakers
- Donate to the scholarship fund (all funds go directly to students)
- Spread the word using #LoveCareShare #InvisibleNoMore #StudentCaregivers
- Contact us at okondrashov@tru.ca to learn more or get involved
A Campus Where Care is Visible
Imagine a university where students don’t have to hide their caregiving responsibilities. Where providing care for others is seen as valuable experience, not a barrier to success. Where support systems exist for the complex realities of students’ lives.
That’s the vision driving Invisible No More. That’s the future we’re working to create.
Join us on June 16th. Help us make care visible. Be part of building a more compassionate educational community.
Because when we honor those who give care and bring together those who care to give, we create something powerful: a community where everyone’s full humanity is seen, valued, and supported.
Dr. Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov and the SOCW 4520 Class Thompson Rivers University
Contact: okondrashov@tru.ca Event Details: Monday, June 16, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 PM | TRU House of Learning, HOL 190
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