Nearly 70.8 million people were forcibly displaced in 2018.
Refugees travel what is often referred to as “The Refugee Highway.” These are patterns of migration that refugees from various parts of the world follow until they reach a final destination. These “highways” are long and treacherous. Why would they take this journey? Refugees are forced to leave their homes, their friends and often their family, and everything they know because of threats, violence, inability to survive, or persecution.
Survival is a basic human instinct. We are programmed to survive. When a person has spent weeks, months, or most often years in survival mode, it can be difficult to know what thriving can look like, especially in a new country, with a new language, operating in a new culture.
There are simple ways that we can help a refugee thrive. Here are ten easy ways that you can help a refugee thrive, not just survive.
1. ATTEND AN EVENT ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY, JUNE 20TH, showing your support and appreciation for refugees’ heritage and culture. Cities and organizations around the United States host events on this day. Learn more here.
2. CALL A REFUGEE AGENCY IN YOUR AREA and learn of a family who may have a need. They will be able to tell you how best to help the refugees in your neighborhood. Find a list of refugee resettlement agencies here
3. TAKE A REFUGEE TO A GROCERY STORE and help them learn about the products available in their area. Be sensitive to their desire for items they used to get in their home country; often they do not know how to use or cook with unfamiliar ingredients.
4. HELP FILL OUT PAPERWORK Help a refugee parent fill out paperwork for their children at the beginning of a new school year.
5. PUT TOGETHER A BACKPACK Put together a backpack with school supplies for a child of a refugee. It is stilll important to these children that they fit in as much as possible and having “cool” brands and the right supplies helps!
6. GO TO THE AIRPORT with a welcome banner for a newly arriving refugee family. A refugee resettlement agency will be able to help you organize this.
7. PROVIDE GIFTS Provide Christmas or other holiday gifts for a refugee family. Meeting a person’s basic needs is important but so is making them feel special.
8. PUT TOGETHER A WELCOME BASKET for a refugee family. This is also a good idea for Thanksgiving and/or Easter. Include a card to a local grocery so their celebration can include foods of their choosing.
9. PREPARE GOODIE BAGS Prepare small gift/goodie bags for refugee children including crayons, activities, small toys, etc. Donate these to your local agency to be given to children as they wait for parents to complete paperwork and interviews.
10. DONATE FURNITURE Do you have new or used furniture (in great condition) that you no longer need? Donate it to a refugee agency to be used to set up an apartment for a newly arrived refugee family.
So, which activity are you going to choose? Let us know how it goes! Do you need more resources? We would love to hear about your experience. Drop us a line at nell@theofframp.org.
The Off Ramp is here to help you make a difference. Find out more about refugee work or become a change-maker at theofframp.org
Nell Green is the Executive Director and Founder of The Off Ramp, co-Founder of Threads by Nomad, and a passionate advocate for refugees and displaced people. As a minister-turned non-profit director, she combines a deep belief that everyone is equal in God’s eyes and her experience with overseas mission work to create opportunities for some of the most vulnerable — displaced people — so they can thrive.
