Global Refugee Fund

Carlo was leading today’s Thursday session. “I thought we’d share something about where we come from, since there are so many nationalities in the room,” he began. We worked our way around the room, introducing ourselves. Guinea, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, the United States, Germany. As we answered, Carlo mapped out each country. “I’d love to learn about where each one of you come from; are you guys interested as well?”

Three days earlier, I had arrived in Berlin to begin my six-week internship. Rather than feeling like work, my first few days were a welcome into a community of old and new friends, led by IsraAID Leadership Specialists Carlo and Anna. On Thursdays, a group of current and former participants of the IsraAID Leadership Groups Project gather at the Haus der Nachbarschaft in Schöneberg, a borough of Berlin.

We were all curious to hear about each other’s homelands. As the participants began sharing, information poured out. Two group members, from Guinea and Afghanistan, brought up the unique linguistic profiles of their nations — both feature over forty different languages! I was reminded of how languages affect the way we think and see the world. This is an ongoing debate within psychology. Some scholars consider the difference among languages to be a clear indicator that their speakers must encode different aspects of the world. Other scholars hold that while people may speak differently, they still interpret their environments in similar ways. Something that cannot be communicated via language may be expressed in other forms. IsraAID Germany has used this idea to overcome the barrier of language through workshops incorporating movement, dance, and music. These workshops are often led by program graduates, allowing them to transition from the role of participant to leader — one of the primary objectives of the Leadership Groups Project.

After the session, I reflected on how much I had learned in just a few hours. I’d read books and taken history classes on the Middle East and Africa, but it was a completely different experience listening to locals speak about their own countries. I already knew, intellectually, that I shouldn’t live in a Eurocentric bubble; but hearing stories that defied my Western framework drove home for me the importance of intercultural exposure, highlighting to me the beauty of life beyond my personal experience.

IsraAID Germany started the leadership project in different locations around the country in order to support refugees as they become integrated into the community. One of the main goals of the project is to motivate participants to aid others in their own communities and the host society through self-made projects, allowing them to realize their own strengths and the power of helping others. Through initiatives such as cooking for the homeless and visiting retirement homes, the participants begin supporting other refugees, ultimately achieving a greater impact.

Continuing the conversation in both German and English, we were able to identify our similarities while appreciating the variety and richness of each culture. When Biryani — a spicy rice dish common in South Asian cuisine — was brought up, the participant from Iran said his mouth began to water. “You can’t find real Biryani in the West!” The man continued to share about his homeland, describing the odd mix of old and new that has existed since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. We were told that upward of 70% of his social circle back home still drinks and dances privately, despite the prohibition of such activities under Sharia Law. “You can change the name of our country, but you can’t change the people,” he emphasized.

Next up was a seventeen-year-old Yazidi girl from Iraq. Although world media has publicized the genocide perpetrated against the Yazidis by ISIS, not everyone in the room had a clear understanding of who the Yazidis are. The girl admitted she was not an expert, but shared a little about her people’s religion and ethnic background. Outside of Iraq, Germany has the largest population of Yazidis in the world. For this reason, IsraAID Germany is currently working on various programs specifically aimed at supporting Yazidi survivors.

After nearly three hours of talking, we had yet to discuss Turkey, Syria, the United States, or Germany. “I have a question about the United States,” said one of the men from Guinea as we were wrapping up. “It looks like we should continue this conversation next week then, because we are all curious to learn more,” Carlo answered. Disappointed to end, I already began anticipating our next session and the promise of expanding my horizons even further alongside my new friends.

Following the mass influx of refugees to Germany in 2015, IsraAID launched “Bridges of Hope,” which aims to provide holistic long term support for refugees upon their resettlement. On top of the cultural shock, many refugees carry deep physical and emotional scars from the violence and atrocities suffered during years of conflict; the most vulnerable among them are women and unaccompanied minors. IsraAID provides sustainable support for shelters throughout Germany by working directly with refugees and affected communities. Efforts have included the set up of mobile specialist trauma units, support programs for female survivors of sexual gender-based violence (GBV), and a vocational program for women. Serena is currently attending Columbia University in New York City, New York. She is one of two IsraAID Humanitarian Fellows volunteering in Germany for summer 2019.

Thank you for your support!

Nutritional Support for Child Refugees in Kenya

Kakuma refugee camp located in West Turkana, Kenya, opened in 1992 and is currently home to over 190,000 refugees from different nationalities, who have fled persecution and war in neighbouring countries including South Sudan, Somalia, and the DRC. Instability in the region, most notably in South Sudan, continues to cause displacement. In addition to the camp’s population there are an estimated 50,000 members of the host community, many of whom rely on government and NGO support. 

The acute malnutrition rate in Turkana sits at 30%, with children at the highest risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition contributes to more than a third of pediatric deaths. Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS, and other illnesses, further increase vulnerability to malnutrition. The Kakuma refugee camp is in one of Kenya’s poorest and most drought-stricken regions, exacerbating access to enough nutritional resources.

In April, the IsraAID Kenya team, in partnership with the UNHCR, IRC, and Kenya Red Cross, donated food supplement distribution to patients identified as high-need. Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is the recommended method of supplementing food in the final stage of rehabilitation from malnutrition. Forty cents purchases one sachet of the supplement; on average, each patient needs to receive one sachet per day, for over 21 days, as their outpatient treatment, while rehabilitating at home and returning to educational frameworks. 100 boxes can serve over 700 children.

RUTF is a ready-to-use paste, made of peanut butter, dried skim milk, and additional vitamins. It can be stored for months without refrigeration and has recently begun being manufactured in the region to decrease dependency on imports and increase sustainable usage. The WHO and UNICEF identify RUTF as optimal treatment for severe malnutrition, specifically for children, because it can be utilized at home rather than in hospitals.

IsraAID was able to donate 108 cartons of RUTF-- supporting many of the most vulerable residents of the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

1 Year Anniversary of the Sindos Community Center in Greece!

The Sindos Community Center, located in a suburb of Thessaloniki, has become a hub of intercultural, communal ownership, creating a platform for meaningful interaction between refugees and local Greeks. Refugees from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Morocco, Algeria, Congo, and Kurdistan facilitate and teach the daily schedule of classes, supported by IsraAID’s Greek and international staff.

Professional development courses aimed at improving refugee access to gainful employment focus on CV workshops, English and Greek classes, skill building sessions, and IT training. Each day, more than 70 refugees attend the center's diverse activities.

Last month, the Sindos Community Center celebrated its one year anniversary!

The whole community came together for a festival with food, dancing, and face painting for children. More than 200 people attended the event, a true testament to the multicultural community that's been built together.

Just a few weeks later, leaders from the Community Center partook in the Thessaloniiki Multilingualism Festival held at City Hall. Three different sessions demonstrated the success of multiculturalism at Sindos with the wider Thessaloniki community-- including a movement therapy session, a self-care and beauty session for women, and multi-language logic games!

These events are a testament to the Sindos community's work to build bridges between different cultures, working towards the common goal of meaningful integration and collaboration between the refugee and local communities.

Thank you for your support of these important programs!