Help more than 12,000 refugees recover from the COVID-19 crisis with RefugePoint and Focusing Philanthropy

As always, Focusing Philanthropy covers all overhead costs. 100% of every donation will go to the 2021 Refugee Resettlements, Reunification, and Self-Reliance campaign.

THE NEED

In recent years, the world has witnessed the highest level of forced displacement on record, with an unprecedented 26 million refugees languishing worldwide. Of those 26 million, only about 425,000 were able to find safety and rebuild their lives in 2019 by either resettling, returning to their country of origin, or legally integrating into their country of asylum, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

The majority of refugees—about 85%—reside in developing countries. Most faced compounding hardship as the COVID-19 pandemic spread unabated in refugee communities lacking robust sanitation and healthcare infrastructure, leading to shuttered economies that refugees depend on for their livelihoods and halting live-saving relocation and resettlement programs. Many urban refugees lost their livelihoods overnight and many others struggled with dangerous misinformation about COVID-19.

RefugePoint staff also witnessed how the pandemic exacerbated protection concerns for vulnerable refugees, including increased instances of sexual- and gender-based violence; child defilement, abuse, and labor exploitation; alcoholism and substance abuse; and detention of refugees when NGO actors are unable to intervene for release due to restrictions on movement.

THE GOAL

In 2020, Focusing Philanthropy and RefugePoint raised $1,000,000 to help protect nearly 9,000 refugees during the pandemic. In 2021, we are again partnering to raise $1,500,000 to respond to the needs of more than 12,000 refugees recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.

Since 2005, RefugePoint has helped more than 87,000 refugees across 41 countries access resettlements and complementary pathways, in addition to providing lifesaving interventions–such as shelter, health care, and business training–to over 12,000 urban refugees in Nairobi annually.

The Refugee Resettlements, Reunification, and Self-Reliance campaign will support:

  • 11,000 refugees with access to resettlement or other complementary pathways (family reunification, labor migration, education visas) to relocate to safety in the U.S., Canada, Australia, or the E.U.
  • 1,000 of the most vulnerable urban refugees in Nairobi, Kenya with access to a path toward self-reliance, through which they are able to meet the basic need of themselves and their families, and live in dignity

Our 2021 campaign will also fund critical COVID-19 focused public health outreach as well as training for 210 UN Refugee Agency and partner NGO staff members on resettlement, family reunification and/or child protection, supporting the expansion of these solutions to all refugees.

THE GIVING MATCH

Focusing Philanthropy will add $1 for every $1 raised by RefugePoint donors, for up to $750,000 in matching support toward the overall 2021 campaign goal of $1,500,000.

To qualify for the match, donations must be directed to Focusing Philanthropy and a minimum of $1,000. Donations are fully tax deductible and 100% of funds contributed will go to the Refugee Resettlements, Reunification, and Self-Reliance campaign.

All Focusing Philanthropy costs are covered by its founders.