The 59 Cents Campaign for Refugee Health is a politically independent movement, led by students who believe that the role of citizen advocacy is a vital component of a healthy and well-functioning democratic country, and who want to make a difference for other people, especially those who are most vulnerable.

The initial campaign was launched on June 22, 2012 after several students participated in a class at the Canadian School of Peacebuilding, an institute of Canadian Mennonite University located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As part of the course, students were required to create and present an advocacy brief. Having read about the protests being carried out by doctors around Canada surrounding the cuts to Interim Federal Health Program, which provided funds for refugee health, they decided to present on this issue.

With unanimous support and encouragement with the instructors, classmates, friends and contacts, the 59 Cents Campaign was officially launched.