Archive for category: Refugees

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Impacts of Poverty on Refugees in the UK

Refugees in the UKThe United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was established by the United Nations (U.N.) following WWII. It defines a refugee as someone who “owing to well-found fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion [etc.] is outside the country of their nationality and is unable…or unwilling to return to it.”

Though this definition was only globally adopted in 1951, when applied to the history of migration to the U.K., it is apparent that there have always been refugees. Some of these include Irish refugees and European political exiles in the 19th century, Jewish refugees during WWII and refugees fleeing the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003. Currently, the U.K. is home to approximately 1% of the 27.1 million refugees across the world.

Why Do Refugees Come to the UK? 

The U.N. states that “war and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes” for people to flee their home country. The consequences of war, including civil war, result in many falling into poverty and destitution as infrastructure and personal property are destroyed. For example, the ongoing war in Syria has resulted in extreme poverty for many. A report notes that in 2017, 27% of Syrian housing, 63% of educational facilities and 50% of medical facilities had been destroyed or damaged.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, Jon Beech, Director of Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network (LASSN), points to poverty as a common reason for refugees to flee their home country. He reasons, “War and disruption often lead to people feeling economically like they haven’t got anything to lose and if you’re going to die of poverty in a dangerous place, you might as well die of poverty in a place that’s slightly less dangerous to yourself.”

There are additionally various reasons as to why refugees arrive in the U.K. The British Red Cross writes that the U.K. may seem the easiest place to rebuild life to some. As of 2023, English is the most spoken language globally, with 1.5 billion speakers. For people who have had to leave everything behind, knowledge of the native language seems like a better start to a new life for many. However, often, refugees don’t have a choice over where they are going. If they are facing persecution in their home country, they may be traveling illegally and place their lives in the hands of smugglers who dictate where they will be taken. In 2022, nearly 46,000 people arrived in the U.K. in small boats, suggesting that many had little choice.

What Difficulties Do They Face?

Many refugees in the UK struggle to obtain work. Some of the issues they face are employment gaps on CVs, lack of U.K. work experience, language barriers and cultural differences. Therefore, many refugees cannot attain regulated work, their only chance at escaping poverty. Beech notes that being granted refugee status is only step one in rebuilding a life. Beech stated, “What’s dispiriting is the level of poverty that people experience even when they get to the U.K… the predations of the unregulated labor market and financial services also further entrench people in poverty when they first get here.”

Additionally, Beech points to the current social climate, commenting, “There’s fear and uncertainty now.” Many refugees face racial discrimination and misinformation spreads rapidly online. For example, the popular notion that refugees are taking jobs from British people is misinformed, as the unemployment rate for refugees is three times greater than for the U.K.-born.

The Government’s Role in Supporting Refugees in the UK

In 2023, Human Rights Watch stated that the U.K.’s asylum and immigration system is “marred with serious systematic failures.” One significant issue is the government’s failure to provide housing after 28 days after the refugee status was granted. However, the government has supported Ukrainian refugees arriving in the U.K. as a result of Russia’s invasion.

They introduced various schemes to support refugees, such as the Ukraine Family Scheme. The scheme allows applicants to join families already living in the country. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, allows applicants to move to the U.K. if they have a named sponsor in the scheme.

Approximately 174,000 people moved to the U.K. under these schemes as of May 2023. The government later introduced the Ukraine Visa and Extension Scheme, for which 24,500 applications have been granted. The government’s handling of Ukrainian refugees demonstrates that they can support refugees and make the process more accessible.

What Role Do Local People Play in Supporting Refugees?

Charities play a significant role in supporting refugees in the UK. Some, such as the British Red Cross, Refugee Action and Refugee Council, work nationwide and anyone can volunteer to help. Others are more local organizations, such as LASSN.

LASSN was formed in 1999 and initially supported refugees by teaching them English through its English at Home project. The charity runs New to Leeds, a website helping refugees get to know and understand the city. Additionally, it supports Migration Partnership and still focuses on creating a friendly and welcoming community for all refugees.

Volunteering with charities, whether nationwide or local, is how most local people can help. However, Beech points out that there are many other ways in which local people can and do help. He says, “Vote for people who agree with you on matters of migration and if the people who you want to vote for don’t have a clear view of what they’d like to do, tell them what you think because there are lots of politicians who listen to their constituents and what they say.”

– Alice Brayford
Photo: Flickr

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The Danish Refugee Council’s Humanitarian Aid Efforts In Lebanon

Humanitarian Aid Efforts In LebanonThe Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an esteemed non-governmental organization that focuses on offering aid and safeguarding the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Since its establishment in 1956, the DRC currently operates in 40 countries, and its ultimate mission revolves around fostering long-lasting solutions for individuals forcibly uprooted from their homes, including its humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon.

Crisis in Lebanon

The DRC is providing humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon because the ongoing refugee crisis in the region heavily affects the Middle Eastern nation. Despite its small size, it plays host to a large number of refugees in proportion to its population, with around 1.5 million Syrian refugees seeking shelter. Ever since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Lebanon has witnessed a substantial influx of Syrian refugees. Furthermore, the country already accommodates a significant number of Palestinian refugees who have been struggling with displacement since long before the outbreak of this conflict.

Lebanon is also currently grappling with one of the most severe economic catastrophes. By 2023, the Lebanese currency has lost 98% of its value. This significant decline has caused a distressing rise in poverty levels, leading to the closure of several businesses and a surge in unemployment rates. Consequently, the prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities such as food, shelter and health care.

The refugees face many significant challenges, including the lack of access to adequate housing and health care. Many live in overcrowded settlements or informal tented settlements, which only puts them at risk of further exploitation and marginalization.

Humanitarian Aid Efforts In Lebanon

DRC has been distributing humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon since 2004, working closely with local communities, government authorities, such as the U.S. Department of State and other humanitarian agencies to address the needs of refugees and displaced people. Its presence and expertise provide rapid and effective assistance to those most in need. One of the ways this is done is through the CHASE program.

The Capable, Hopeful, Accepted, Safe and Engaged (CHASE) youth empowerment program aims to enhance social and economic empowerment and foster self-reliance among young Syrian refugees and other youths who feel the impacts of conflict. Before creating this program, the DRC conducted a study and found that Lebanese and Syrian youth are facing widespread feelings of hopelessness due to limited opportunities for further education and decent employment, leading to a lack of optimism for the future.

The program employs a holistic approach to support communities, incorporating activities such as skills training, capacity building, awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts.

Economic Recovery Programming

The DRC’s Economic Recovery Programming is a program that aims to support individuals and their households in rebuilding their financial stability after a crisis or shock. Its main focus is to empower individuals to sustain themselves through self-production for income generation in a secure manner. Within this program, there are three sub-sectors: Food Security, Financial Inclusion and Decent Livelihoods.

  1. Food security initiatives work to guarantee that people and families have the necessary resources to access an adequate amount of safe and high-quality food through various interventions that enhance their ability to fulfill their essential food requirements. By providing economic support and facilitating access to markets, these efforts ensure that individuals have both the financial means and physical access necessary to acquire the food they need.
  2. Financial inclusion initiatives aim to provide individuals and businesses with access to affordable and tailored financial products and services, delivered responsibly and sustainably. This may involve educating and assisting individuals, households and communities in understanding and utilizing these financial tools, such as through financial literacy workshops.
  3. Decent livelihood activities aim to ensure that individuals and households have the resources necessary to meet their needs by offering a variety of income opportunities from sustainable work. These activities involve providing employment assistance to individuals and households by improving life and technical skills, social connections and hands-on experiences. They also help give access to important assets such as natural resources and tools, which are essential for participating in both agricultural and non-agricultural labor markets either as wage earners or self-employment.

Supporting Refugees and IDPs

The DRC’s humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon demonstrate its commitment to supporting refugees and IDPs. Through a comprehensive range of services, the DRC empowers displaced individuals to rebuild their lives. With a focus on long-term solutions and advocacy, the DRC contributes significantly to humanitarian efforts in Lebanon.

– Sara Hatab
Photo: Flickr

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Freedom for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

Rohingya RefugeesSince the ’90s, Bangladesh has hosted Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar in fenced refugee camps, the number of whom has reached almost a million since Myanmar’s crackdown in 2017. Refugees are prohibited from traveling beyond the fences of the camps. They are limited in their access to vital services while also facing the risk of gang violence, kidnapping and extreme hunger.

Kutupalong, located in Ukhia on the vast Cox’s Bazar complex, is one of the largest refugee camps in the world. Built on steep hillsides, the camps are susceptible to flooding and landslides, particularly during monsoon season and the bamboo structures hastily constructed to house Kutupalong’s one million occupants provide little sanctuary. Fires in the camp are also not uncommon.

A Fresh Chance at Freedom

However, as of December 2023, a new hope was presented for the camps’ occupants. After blocking any resettlement of refugees to third countries since 2010, Bangladesh agreed to allow the U.S. to resettle some Rohingya refugees after striking a deal. For the first time in more than a decade, refugees were provided with hope for a way out of the camp that didn’t involve the risk of violence and even death through illegal human trafficking.

Although only 62 refugees have been flown to the U.S. thus far, these figures are set to increase. AK Abdul Momen, Bangladesh’s foreign minister, reportedly wants developed nations to take 100,000 refugees and criticized the stagnant pace of the resettlement process, despite ultimately believing the best solution to support the Rohingya is for them to be repatriated back to Myanmar, where they face persecution.

Juliet Volls Noyce, Assistant Secretary to President Biden, also offered her support, adding that “the U.S. is proud to be able to support resettlement in our country of the very vulnerable Rohingya. This is a priority of President Biden. We are discussing with other governments and with other partners. We will be working together with the international community.”

Speaking to the Guardian, Nurul, among the first refugees afforded a chance at a new life with resettlement to the U.S., spoke glowingly of his newfound freedom. “We have escaped the prison,” he said, adding that “for 31 years, I did not even have “basic rights. All this time, we lived with only primary services – school, food, health. Nothing more than that.”

The Future?

The early success of the resettlement process demonstrates the enormous potential for the Rohingya population of Myanmar to start a new life in the West. However, there is unequivocally a substantial amount of progress to be made before the program can be labeled a success.

AK Abdul Momen highlighted that current progress represents nothing more than “just a drop in the ocean,” as Bangladesh hosts more than 1.1 million refugees. For the program to be labeled successful, resettlements will need to continue on a larger scale and continued support from the U.S. government will be significantly depended upon.

– Ethan Leyden
Photo: Flickr

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3 Poetry Projects Advocating for Refugees

Three Poetry Projects Advocating for Refugees The number of refugees across Europe is growing, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reporting that forcibly displaced people have exceeded 21.8 million by the end of 2022. Consequently, poetry, a medium that amplifies the voices of refugees, is gaining traction in both local and national contexts. Poetry projects advocating for refugees have become a powerful tool for sharing victim’s stories and experiences.

Emi Mahmoud

Emithal (Emi) Mahmoud, world-famous poet and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, draws on her own experience as a former refugee to lead her momentous efforts as an advocate for refugees around the globe. In fact, her work has led her to sit down with some of the biggest names on the planet – addressing, among others, former President Barack Obama, the Dalai Llama and the United Nations General Assembly.

In 2021, Mahmoud picked up her pen once more to tackle the immense task of advocacy through poetry. She wrote and performed a piece for the 120 world leaders at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow – a piece that explored the intersectionality of refugees who are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Becoming a vessel for the voice of ‘Mother Earth’ herself, Mahmoud begs her children to open their eyes to how they have hurt her, asks them to reckon with how they have hurt their brothers and sisters and reveals the troubling answer to the question: if the earth could speak to humanity, what would it say?

In addition, Mahmod researched and talked at length with refugees on the ‘frontline of climate change’ in preparation for her writing, documenting stories of volunteers fighting to protect their communities. She simultaneously reveals the momentous efforts of these individuals and the need for those in power to help them out; her poetry is yet again a stream of realization and a call to action for all who hear it.

ARTdespite Gallery

On the ground floor of Berlin’s East Side Mall, among three-story Zaras and bustling MediaMarkts, the ARTdespite gallery stands out. The @heart_for_ukraine and @ukrainehilfeberlin initiative has been running since 2018, creating a space to share Ukrainian books, food and companionship.

Recently, the gallery’s latest initiative, Poetry Nights, captured Berlin’s media attention as Ukrainian migrants gathered there to reconnect and reminisce about their homeland.

Nadia Telenchuk, a Ukrainian poet who relocated to Berlin before the war, organizes these events to revive the language and culture left behind by Ukrainians. The gallery donates all proceeds from art sales during these events to support aid efforts in Ukraine.

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

In 2019, the Islington Centre teamed up with Amnesty International, an organization that has been a voice for global refugee rights for decades. Together, they coordinated the publication of a poem named ‘Trees of Home’ A culmination of months of research, interviews and stories collected by artist Jane Ray and writer Sita Brahmachari, the poem explores the painful themes of familial separation.

Furthermore, the impact of the poem was far-reaching and widely-celebrated, not least due to its celebrity illustrator; Axel Scheffler, best known for the much-loved children’s book The Gruffalo. Scheffler’s vocal support of refugee rights across Europe drew him quickly to the project. The illustration was sold at auction, with all proceeds donated to Amnesty’s ‘Families Together’ project; and so working to combat the very issues the poem reveals.

Looking Forward

As Europe contends with an increasing number of refugees, poetry emerges as a vital channel for amplifying their voices and sharing their poignant narratives with the world. Initiatives like Emi Mahmoud’s advocacy, Berlin’s ARTdespite gallery and the collaborative efforts of the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants highlight the transformative power of art in fostering understanding and compassion.

Looking ahead, these poetry projects advocating for refugees promise to continue breaking down barriers, encouraging global communities to listen, empathize and help all who read it better understand the world that they live in and the neighbors with whom they share it.

– Peggy Hughes
Photo: Flickr

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Syrian Women’s Textile Cooperatives in Refugee Camps

Textile Cooperatives in Refugee CampsIn the heart of Lebanon and Jordan’s refugee camps, amid the backdrop of displacement and uncertainty, Syrian women are weaving threads of hope and resilience. The formation of textile cooperatives in these camps is not just preserving the intricate art of Syrian textiles. Still, it also provides a lifeline – a crucial source of income and a profound sense of community for these displaced individuals.

Al Badia Cooperative: A Symbol of Cultural Preservation

The Al Badia Cooperative in Lebanon is one such beacon of hope. Renowned for its traditional embroidery techniques, Al Badia has become a textile group; it’s a symbol of cultural preservation. Here, women meticulously create patterns that tell stories of their homeland, keeping the rich tapestry of Syrian heritage alive. These artisans, many of whom had to flee their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs, find solace and dignity in the rhythmic movement of their needles and threads.

UNHCR’s Role in Supporting Livelihoods

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a pivotal role in supporting these cooperatives. By providing materials, training and a platform to sell these textiles, organizations like UNHCR are aiding in livelihood creation and helping preserve a vital part of Syrian culture. This support has been crucial in turning these initiatives from small-scale projects to sustainable income and cultural preservation sources.

Economic and Psychological Impact

The economic impact within the camps is palpable. For many women, the cooperatives offer not only a source of income but also a sense of normalcy and purpose. The earnings from these cooperatives often go towards supporting entire families and providing food, education and healthcare. Beyond the economic benefits, these cooperatives are a testament to the resilience and strength of Syrian women, who demonstrate remarkable fortitude in the face of adversity.

Cultural Significance Amidst Displacement

In a time when displacement threatens to erase cultural identities, these textiles stand as a defiant symbol of heritage and history. These fabrics are more than just craftsmanship products; they are narratives woven with threads of resilience, hope and a deep longing for a homeland left behind.

Conclusion: A Movement Beyond Economics

The emergence of textile cooperatives in refugee camps is more than an economic initiative. It is a movement that is preserving the intricate art of Syrian textiles, empowering women with a sense of purpose and ensuring that even in the face of displacement, the vibrant tapestry of Syrian culture continues to flourish. Through their work, these women are not only contributing to their communities. Still, they are also keeping the stories and traditions of Syria alive for future generations.

– Hana Al-Khodairi
Photo: Freepik

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Changemaker: Fighting for Refugee Children in Zambia

Refugee Children in ZambiaZambia is a landlocked country located in southern Africa. Due to its unique geography, Zambia hosts approximately 105,000 refugees predominantly from bordering countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and former Rwandan and Angolan colonies. Many of these refugees and asylum seekers live in three main refugee settlements in Meheba, Mayukwayukwa and Mantapala, with some residing in Lusaka, the capital city.

The Experience of Refugee Children in Zambia

The nature of being a refugee or asylum seeker involves plenty of travel. As such, many organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have identified many violations of basic human rights during this process. In particular, refugee children seem to be dramatically affected by the process of claiming asylum. Challenging discrimination against refugee children in Zambia is one of the key case studies in UNICEF’s research on the issue. Others range from child marriage, child labor and gender-based violence.

A New Approach by UNICEF

To tackle these issues, UNICEF Zambia decided to organize what it calls a “Changemaker Workshop” in Lusaka. These workshops are designed to foster inclusion with refugee children in Zambia to directly address the unique problems they face daily, as well as canvassing for solutions.

The initiative involved 20 children aged 13 to 19 who shared their personal experiences as refugees living in Zambia. They were encouraged to highlight adversities faced while navigating the asylum process, detailing instances of discrimination and the challenges of living as orphans or being raised in child-headed households, typically led by an older sibling. As a UNICEF Changemaker, these refugee children can actively participate and consult on issues that directly affect them. Furthermore, they can provide better information to charitable organizations like UNICEF to develop a better outcome for them.

The Impact of the UNICEF Changemaker Program

As a direct result of this initiative, UNICEF has compiled valuable feedback from the participants. Many have proposed practical solutions to various challenges they face, including:

  1. Access to clean water and sanitation.
  2. Encouraging the refugee community to adopt reuse, reduce and recycle practices.
  3. The creation of more learning opportunities in the program.
  4. Establishing additional youth groups focused on teaching skills like writing, reading and organized sporting activities.
  5. Ensuring key information such as paper processing, environmental protection, reporting security issues and access to clean hygiene and sanitation services are presented in a way that can be understood by refugee children.

UNICEF Zambia says that these workshops enable a greater level of participation from refugee children in Zambia in a meaningful way. Consequently, the organization is expanding this initiative by collaborating with partners to establish additional safe spaces for children. This aims to amplify the voices of more adolescent refugees, fostering a platform where their perspectives are heard and solutions are envisaged.

– Domenico Palermo
Photo: Flickr

Taliban Refusing Women NGO Workers: What is Being Done

Women NGO WorkersOn August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, following the earlier withdrawal of United States military forces. U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani fled the capital while the Afghan security force crumbled, leaving Kabul and all of Afghanistan under Taliban control. More than two years since the resurgence of the Taliban, conditions in Afghanistan have worsened, particularly affecting the most vulnerable members of Afghan society. One of the groups experiencing the greatest hardships under Taliban rule is women.

Afghanistan girls as young as 12 years old have been largely forbidden to attend classes. These policies have made it harder for Western governments to acknowledge the Taliban as the legitimate governing body in Afghanistan. More recently, on December 22, 2022, the Taliban began refusing aid from women working with Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), essentially cutting the staff of aid workers in Afghanistan by a third.

Refusing Women NGO Workers

The Taliban’s refusal to allow women to work for NGOs extends beyond nonprofit organizations and charities to also include their participation in U.N. initiatives. According to the National Public Radio (NPR), this move by the Taliban is the latest in a line of maneuvers to cut off aid during what is being labeled as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis” by U.N. Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Ramiz Alabaro.

The ban on female NGO workers comes at a time when Afghanistan desperately needs humanitarian aid. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), as many as 19.9 million people in the country faced acute food insecurity in the winter of 2022-2023. The winter also saw the deaths of more than 200 people and 200,000 livestock. With so many humanitarian issues arising in Afghanistan, NGOs are faced with a difficult choice as the Taliban refusing women NGO workers strikes at their principles while rescinding aid leaves those in need vulnerable.

Organizations Finding Solutions

Despite the increasingly challenging conditions in Afghanistan, organizations are actively seeking alternative approaches to ensure the continued delivery of aid to those in need. The New Humanitarian reports that it has interviewed numerous women employed by NGOs in Afghanistan who, despite the sensitive nature of the situation, have managed to come to agreements with the Taliban to continue their work. Although they have requested to remain anonymous due to the volatile nature of the issue, these women have been able to come to some level of understanding with the Taliban and continue their work.

Many women heading local NGOs in Afghanistan have met and confirmed that they have been able to maintain their operations in five provinces by making concessions with the Taliban. The New Humanitarian reports that while the Taliban have banned most women from office buildings, they are permitted to leave their homes to distribution centers/sites. Other groups headed by women have reported appointing male proxies to handle matters that require a physical presence to oversee administrative and/or financial matters.

Wrap up

The Taliban’s refusal to allow women NGO workers to participate in humanitarian operations has significantly complicated the execution of aid efforts. As reported by PBS Frontline, this ban has made it more difficult to get fundraising approval as only 5.5% of the U.N. ‘s requested $4.6 billion aid for Afghanistan has been fulfilled. As organizations continue to make their best efforts to provide aid while fighting to keep their female workers involved, time will tell if circumstances improve for the better.

– Beau Sansom
Photo: Flickr

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Opening Hearts, Opening Homes: Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Refugees in NeedThe U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported 110 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide midway through 2023. This displacement developed as a result of conflict and violence in their native country, persecution and breaches of their human rights. The UNHCR reported of this 110 million, 36.4 million people are refugees.

Although the arrival of a refugee in a host country offers immediate relief from dangerous, life-threatening circumstances, the challenges they face do not immediately cease and instead will continue. This continued challenge could be linguistic barriers, difficulty securing work, troubles accessing services, including education for children, cultural barriers and finding a new home. 

The world-famous online platform that provides rental accommodation and experiences, Airbnb, is using its databases and tools to help home Refugees, creating a platform to ensure Airbnb assists refugees in need.

When Did Airbnb Start Helping Support Refugees

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, an Airbnb host named Shell opened her home for free for evacuees escaping the natural disaster. Upon hearing this, Airbnb called upon other hosts in the area, leading to the opening of more than 1,000 host homes. This response inspired Airbnb to create a program to ensure Airbnb assists Refugees in need by providing emergency accommodation. Today, this program is known as the nonprofit organization Airbnb.org, which originated in 2020.

The Funding Behind Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is independent of Airbnb and, therefore, has separate management and goals and, of course, is nonprofitable. However, Airbnb covers the organization’s operating costs. Airbnb states its funding means “community donations go even further to support people in times of crisis.” Airbnb also provides hosts with AirCover, insurance and damage protection in case problems arise during guest stays. Furthermore, Airbnb provides grants and waives guest fees to cover the costs of the emergency stay, as well as providing crucial technology, which all contribute to funding Airbnb.org.

How Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Those eligible for Airbnb.org emergency housing are those displaced due to natural disasters, refugees, people seeking asylum, or, for example, a Special Immigrant Visa and relief workers. Airbnb hosts can open their homes either for free or at a discount with Airbnb.org. Alternatively, hosts can sign up exclusively to accommodate refugee guests. Airbnb.org acts as the connection between refugees and emergency temporary housing, providing daily necessities and a bed for as many nights as possible. Emergency stays can be around a month or more and typically begin within one to two days after the first point of contact due to the situation’s urgency.

The Partnerships That Ensure Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Airbnb.org works alongside non-governmental organizations, humanitarian groups and governments. These groups include the International Rescue Committee (IRC); HIAS, a global Jewish organization assisting refugees; Build Change, a disaster recovery company; and the Community sponsorship hub. By partnering with refugee resettlement groups, potentially eligible refugee guests are located and supported to ensure they can access Airbnb.org’s help.

The Success of Airbnb.org

Since 2020, more than 91,000 hosts from 189 countries have opened their homes for refugees with Airbnb.org. As of July 2023, Airbnb.org has reported connecting close to 300,000 people with emergency housing. The 2023 UNHCR mandate said more than 50% of refugees came from only three countries: the Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan and Ukraine. At the beginning of 2022, Airbnb.org reported it housed 100,000 Ukrainians and 20,000 Afghan refugees. 

Helping to house such a substantial number of people during times of crisis is a remarkable achievement. Airbnb, using its platform to provide aid and support to refugees who often have left their homeland with very little, makes a difference to a person’s resettlement journey. As Airbnb assists refugees in need, it demonstrates how other companies can use their stage to help others. Encouraging hosts to open their hearts and homes to help others demonstrates how one individual can make a tangible difference in another person’s life. Support in this way must continue as the number of refugees rises; thus, the need for housing grows.

– Heidi Helen Horgan
Photo: Flickr

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How The Olympic Refuge Foundation is Helping Refugees

The Olympic Refuge Foundation
With a growing number of people across the world who are forced to leave their livelihoods and start a new life somewhere else, projects that increase confidence and well-being are a key part of minimizing the chances of poverty among refugees. The Olympic Refuge Foundation is using sport to encourage communication and teamwork, provide a regular routine and increase the self-confidence of refugees. 

4 Facts About Refugees

World Refugee Day, celebrated each year on June 20, aims to highlight the strength and courage of people who have had to flee their home country. In 2023, the main theme focused on hope, which is no better embodied than by the athletes dreaming big on the Olympic Refugee Team.

The Olympic Refuge Foundation

Since the 1990s, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been developing sports programs in the camps and settlements refugees often find themselves in. People from many different countries, who speak multiple languages, have been able to unite through sport and find joy in a simple game of basketball. 

Since then, the sports projects have developed beyond the walls of the camps. In March 2016, the IOC announced the creation of the Olympic Refugee Team, and that summer at the Rio Olympics, 10 athletes were selected to represent the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team.

At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, 29 refugee athletes competed across 12 different sports. The increase in top-level athletes also reflects the expansion of sports programs around the world that are working to help refugees. In December 2017, the IOC created the Olympic Refuge Foundation with the aim of providing consistent support not only to high-level refugee athletes but to refugees across the world. The foundation now supports 12 programs in eight countries: Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, Turkey and Uganda and is looking to extend the project to Colombia and France. 

The sports projects in refugee camps provide safe and inclusive spaces for young people escaping violence, abuse, negligence and exploitation. Young people of different nationalities are able to communicate with each other through the common language of sport, making valuable friendships and building trust and confidence in themselves. The day-to-day activities contribute to the social cohesion and development of people who have been scarred by their past. Fighting the feeling of hopelessness and desolation — so common in camps — is key to their future growth and recovery. 

Terrains D’avenir

The IOC and Olympic Refuge Foundation are also keen to use the upcoming Olympics in Paris as a tool to encourage sport in local communities in France. With the support of the French Ministry of Sports and multiple other partners, a program – Terrains d’Avenir – has emerged to provide 7,000 young people who are displaced with access to sports by 2025. The program, which launched in June 2023, aims to support refugees in recovering from their experiences of trauma and to involve them in French society through sport. 

The project is open to any displaced young person, regardless of their administrative status or ability to speak French and will offer organized activities across a variety of sports. Starting a new life somewhere is never easy; learning a new language, adapting to new customs, finding a new job and integrating yourself into the local community take time and patience. However, if these steps can be achieved, the chances of poverty among refugees are far less likely. 

– Almaz Nerurkar
Photo: Flickr

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A Beacon to Rally Behind: Empowering Women in Pakistan

Empowering Women in Pakistan
Pakistan is not known for being staunchly progressive concerning women. However, in recent times, progress has occurred to propel lower-income women into the future by trying to give opportunities to vulnerable communities. To the point where women in Pakistan are also able to aid female refugees from Afghanistan. Here is how people are empowering women in Pakistan.

Efforts in the Midwife Industry

Statistics from 2020 state that Pakistan is 54th out of 186 countries in maternal mortality deaths, with 154 a year. Studies backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that midwives can help to substantially reduce maternal deaths. Pakistan is currently estimated to have only 0.72 midwives for every 10,000 people. The goal is obvious: to populate the midwife industry. With a strong push from both international organizations and national midwife representatives, such as the Midwifery Association of Pakistan and the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pakistan developed the National Midwifery Strategic Framework, and its current popularizing slogan is ‘Midwives’ Voices, Midwives’ Demands.’

Pakistan is investing more in its national midwife service by establishing a four-year Bachelor of Science graduation path. This new path will teach the importance of reproductive health and self-care interventions.

The campaign aims to improve higher education standards and their availability, as well as establish a more robust transitional pathway from the classroom to the workplace. This campaign will further legitimize the profession and attract more candidates in the future. More midwives are to work in hospitals alongside nurses and doctors. The goal is to add 1,500 midwives to the industry in the near future.

Gender-based Bond to Empower Women

 In July, the microfinance bank Kashf issued Pakistan’s first gender-based bond. Gender bonds aim to raise awareness of global gender inequality and empower women. The overall goal is to establish sustainable economic development for women, by women. This bond is worth 2.5 billion Pakistani rupees, slightly more than $9 million.

Kashf has been working for years on empowering women in Pakistan, specifically in rural areas. As a result of their impact, women in poor communities have been able to generate income and establish their own businesses while employing people from their communities. According to Maheen Rahman, CEO of the credit enhancement facility InfraZamin Pakistan, Kashf’s customer base is 99.7% women.

The bond issue comes at a fortunate time, as Pakistan is still recovering from the monsoon season in the summer of 2022. Monsoons damaged or destroyed at least 2.1 million homes, killed 15,000 people and displaced 8 million.

In the Sindh province, the regional government has begun providing land titles and funds to previously landless people to offer a new start for many storm victims. Out of the 1.3 million eligible beneficiaries, more than 426,000 are women. Only 1.2% of Pakistani women own land. Owning land would be a phenomenal start for thousands of women looking to rebuild and would be a crucial landmark in the quest for empowering women in Pakistan.

Female Refugees in Pakistan

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of thousands of female refugees have fled. A skills center opened in Peshawar, Pakistan, to aid them in their migration. Teaching skills like beauty, technology and tailoring. Hundreds of women have already enrolled and began learning. The school is looking to expand to accommodate more students. Courses are about three months until graduation; afterward, women can start looking to create income by obtaining employment or starting their own businesses.

While the country is still deeply entrenched in gender inequality, there is a push for empowering women in Pakistan to generate their own income. The government is bolstering the midwife profession to make another viable career path for women and reduce the maternal mortality rate. In the aftermath of last year’s devastating funding, women in poor communities now receive gender bonds to establish businesses and are now in line to receive land titles. Women from Afghanistan are now coming to Pakistan to learn employable skills. If this social reform can develop for a prolonged period, Pakistan could become a beacon for women across the Middle East. 

– Eddie Dale
Photo: Flickr