5 Organizations Offering Help To Migrants And Refugees

Migrants attempting to integrate into new countries face many challenges, often dealing with prejudice as they navigate an unfamiliar culture. Numerous organizations work to alleviate these obstacles by providing education, advocacy, and support services to newcomers. The groups listed here, in no particular order, are committed to extending assistance to those displaced from their homelands.

Opening our review at #1 is Give Something Back To Berlin, an award-winning platform and network that strives to build community, encourage dialogue, and enable civic participation among the city's diverse migrant populations. It operates numerous free resources including a music school, a community kitchen, and a space for the visual and performing arts, as well as educational programs offering training in language and career skills.

To help newcomers become active contributors in their areas, GSBTB's Open City initiative creates tools and advocacy efforts to promote participation in the democratic process. The organization also works to bring attention to issues faced by migrants, with projects such as a letter-writing campaign from residents of Berlin's Tempelhof refugee camp and articles critiquing anti-immigrant sentiment. GSBTB partners with local NGOs to provide vital services to vulnerable populations.

Next up at #2 is Episcopal Migration Ministries, continuing the Episcopal Church's long history of aiding displaced people arriving in the United States. Its affiliate partners provide refugees with information and services to help them find success in their new communities, assisting with the formal resettlement process as well as offering education on subjects like career advancement and English proficiency.

EMM forms partnerships with local stakeholders to create welcoming communities for those entering American society, and conducts educational outreach encouraging a spirit of hospitality toward migrants. Its approach includes faith-based tools such as Bible study materials, as well as speaking events, podcasts, and articles on the struggles of those driven to seek asylum. The organization also offers training and resources for advocates speaking out in support of refugees.

For #3 we have Nasc, a group helping migrants living in Ireland to understand and access their rights. Its no-cost legal service offers advice on issues related to immigration and asylum, and the organization runs several specialized projects for those requiring additional support. The Connect Migrant Youth Project helps young people access services like health care, while the Gateway Programme supports refugee women in the pursuit of education and employment.

Organizing campaigns in support of causes like family reunification and access to citizenship for refugees, Nasc works to make it easier for asylum seekers to integrate into Irish society. The group fights against discrimination with efforts like its Report Racism initiative, and provides guides on subjects such as obtaining visas or travel documents. Nasc also helps successful clients share personal accounts of their journeys, in order to inspire and educate others.

At #4 is Kids in Need of Defense, which advocates for the rights of unaccompanied migrant and refugee children in the United States. KIND provides young people with legal representation in immigration court at no cost, helping to train volunteer attorneys to serve as pro bono advocates. Its Social Services team helps connect clients with health care, educational opportunities, and other crucial resources.

To build support for policies that protect displaced youth, KIND participates in demonstrations, circulates petitions, and generates research reports on the barriers faced by young people immigrating to the United States. Its Family Separation Response Team targets practices that remove children from their parents' care at the border, and its Voices That Matter Most project aids immigrant and refugee children in advocating for themselves by recounting their experiences.

We'll close with #5, International Institute of Minnesota, which aims to empower new Americans to pursue success. The Institute offers language and United States citizenship classes, and helps clients with career advancement through programs like its College Readiness Academy. It provides specialized learning opportunities for the hospitality and healthcare industries, like its Introduction to Human Body Systems course for aspiring medical workers.

The Institute extends support services to those transitioning into life in America, including refugee resettlement assistance and community orientation workshops. It provides help with immigration proceedings, facilitates family reunification for unaccompanied minors, and operates an anti-human trafficking program helping survivors obtain needed resources. The organization also hosts the Festival of Nations, an annual celebration of the community's diverse cultural heritage.