The work we do each day is in support of one vision—a world where a community’s future is not determined by its circumstances but by the aspirations of its people. On World Refugee Day, we recognize the aspirations of the 108.4 million refugees, internally displaced people, and migrants around the world. By listening to their hopes for the future, we can understand how to best deliver the support they need today.
With hope, protection, and inclusivity at the center of our work, we adapt our services to meet the evolving needs of displaced communities. Layered services in Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria are designed to help people across many aspects of their lives, rather than approaching them with one-size-fits-all assistance.
Every step of the way, we support tens of thousands of migrants’ lives and dreams because we all share a hope for a better future.
Humanitarian Assistance & Access to Services
For both recently arrived refugees and long-term residents of displacement camps, our teams provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and access to basic services to help people find a sense of security.
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- In Colombia, our Acogida team coordinates campaigns to provide Venezuelan migrants and host communities with free health care services, including vaccinations, eye exams, dental more, prenatal care, pediatrics, and more. Staying healthy helps migrants focus on what matters most – their dreams and their future.
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- In Jordan, our Uplift team works with the 77,000 Syrian refugees living in Za’atari Refugee Camp to promote the holistic well-being of residents. Our teams provide services ranging from educational and recreational activities (like wheelchair basketball) to case management, medical referrals, and support for the elderly and people with disabilities.
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- In Syria, our SAFER II team distributes essential items to tens of thousands of displaced families. For Maryam*, right, this means delivering goods directly to her tent so she can care for her children without interruption. Not having to worry about food or necessities gives her more time to invest in her children, who are her future. *Name changed for privacy
Psychosocial Support & Well-Being Checks
Regardless of where they are on their migration journey, we provide psychosocial support and have regular check-ins to refugees and migrants who are coping with trauma, isolation, health challenges, and mobility limitations.
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- Our Innovation Lab team at Za’atari Camp started an initiative to produce canes for the elderly and other people with mobility issues at the camp. Made from recycled materials, these canes are lightweight, durable, and enhance mobility and comfort. With this support, refugees can feel safer and more confident everyday.
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- Ayat, mother of Nabaa, who has Down Syndrome, attends our psychosocial support sessions and engaging activities with other women after feeling isolated since her daughter’s birth. She feels a sense of community and brings Nabaa to play with other children. Now, the family has hope: “We used to fear letting Nabaa go out due to bullying concerns. Now, the situation has improved significantly, and all our fears have dissipated.”
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- Mutual support groups led by Acogida in Colombia help women through their healing journeys after experiencing violence and migration. For Leidy, that support was crucial to move forward: “Listening to other women has taught me that we should stand together, and we all need support.”
Livelihood Training & Business Support
Our livelihood programs help refugees and returnees develop new livelihoods or bolster their existing businesses so they can support their families and build a better future.
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- Muhanad, 18, has spent much of his young life in a displacement camp. Inspired to study, he enrolled in our vocational training sessions to learn to become an electrician. Now, Muhanad services his whole block in the camp. With his new business, he said, “I feel more responsible towards my family. I started planning for my future and trying to manage my finances.”
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- Ali and Abbas, two young Iraqi returnees, participated in welding courses offered through the Achieving Measurable Access to Livelihoods program, which provided Iraqis with vocational trainings and startup business kits to help them build market-driven skills and rebuild their livelihoods upon return. The two friends are hoping to design medical prototypes that can provide lifesaving emergency aid across Iraq.
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- Aisha, a Syrian refugee and mother of five living in Jordan, supports her family by making and selling pickles and jams using traditional Syrian methods. With the support of the Smart Desert project, she learned how to register and license her business, which enabled her to sell her food products throughout Jordan and secure a sustainable income.
Community-Building & Leadership Opportunities
Refugees, returnees, and migrants are active members of their communities and can feel much more welcomed through our community-based activities that bring neighbors together and give them agency to pursue their own hopes and dreams.
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- The Uplift program in Jordan is empowering people living at Za’atari Camp with the skills and opportunities to act as agents of change in their community. Our team is setting up an inclusive network of refugee-led committees that represent the needs of different groups, including women, children, and the elderly, and allow them to brainstorm solutions and lead initiatives to address challenges.
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- Yassin embraced the chance to be a leader in his community. Living in a displacement camp, he serves on the Committee for the Disabled and Elderly. Giving back to his community has inspired him to pursue teaching poetry and calligraphy to younger generations in the camp.
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- Through Casa Pintada, families across Colombia have decorated and repainted their homes alongside their neighbors. This collective action promotes cooperation and fosters social connections in communities that have experienced migration or conflict.
