Samii is sharing the power of human connection through hugs. A cuddle therapist and advocate for platonic, consensual touch, Samii works with people who are craving connection in an increasingly disconnected world. She is building Hug100 — a growing movement encouraging people to give 100 free, 20-second hugs in one day, long enough for the real benefits of connection to begin. Her ambition is to mobilise 100 people globally on the same day, creating 10,000 free hugs in a collective act of care.

To build momentum and show the real impact of nurturing touch, Samii will use the $500 to create a coffee-table photo book and short documentary. The project will capture before-and-after moments and conversations with strangers who choose to receive a hug, offering tender proof that human touch and connection matter.

The funds will support equipment or professional help to capture and edit the work, with any sales or donations reinvested into future community connection events - helping the ripple of hugs continue to spread.