Vancouver Island's heartfelt connection to Brazil and blood donation

The Vancouver Island Brazilian Cultural Association, or VIBRA, helps Brazilians living on Vancouver Island stay connected to their homeland. The island is over 10,000 kilometers away from Brazil. Many Brazilians join VIBRA to stay connected, build a community, and share meaningful experiences with fellow Brazilians.

One powerful way VIBRA is making a difference is by actively participating in blood donation drives and becoming a Partners for Life team in Victoria, donating nearly 50 times in 2024.

A personal story of giving: Leandro’s inspiration

Leandro, the Partners for Life team champion for VIBRA, leads the group’s blood donation efforts. His passion for giving back to the community began years ago in Brazil, when he saw the power of blood donation firsthand.

When a close friend’s father became ill and needed blood for treatment, the community rallied to offer support, calling it “filling the bank.” Leandro stepped up to help, and the experience ignited his lifelong commitment to blood donation.

Building a community of donors

After immigrating to Canada three years ago, Leandro wanted to keep helping others. He also saw an opportunity to do even more. He was determined to donate blood and inspire others to join the cause, particularly Brazilians.

He set a clear goal: recruit one new donor every time he participated. This approach helped strengthen the VIBRA community and contribute to the health and well-being of his new home in Canada.

For Leandro and the VIBRA Partners for Life team, blood donation is more than saving lives—it's about building a community.

The donation process takes around 40 minutes, but many VIBRA donors stay longer. They spend hours at the donation centre chatting, enjoying the snacks from Canadian Blood Services, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new ones. The social setting and friendly atmosphere at the donation centre make this team building event special for both new and returning donors.  

A tradition of giving, one donation at a time

In 2024, the VIBRA Partners for Life team donated almost 50 times, but Leandro and his group aren’t stopping there. They want to keep growing their network of donors. Every new member connects with both the Brazilian community and the larger Canadian society, creating a sense of shared purpose and belonging.

For Leandro, this experience has come full circle. He started by helping a friend in Brazil and now leads recruitment for his VIBRA family on Vancouver Island. To him, blood donation is an act of generosity, unity, and solidarity.

As he encourages more Brazilians to give blood, Leandro knows that each donation brings not only the chance to save a life but also strengthen the ties that bind his community together, across continents and generations.

Whether it’s reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, or saving lives, VIBRA’s Partners for Life blood donation efforts are a testament to the power of community and the enduring spirit of giving.