Make a Difference on World Refugee Day

A message from Executive Director Laura Vaudreuil on World Refugee Day:

Dear Friend of Refugee Transitions, 

Today, June 20, is World Refugee Day. Observed globally, World Refugee Day honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

All of Refugee Transitions' students came to the U.S. either as refugees or as immigrants looking to escape poverty and hunger in their home countries. This World Refugee Day, you can honor and stand with the Bay Area's refugees by investing in Refugee Transitions' work.

Refugee Transitions is determined to serve every adult and youth in San Francisco, the East Bay and the South Bay who needs guidance from our volunteers and staff. Our program design is built on nearly three decades of walking in solidarity with refugees and immigrants transitioning to life in the Bay Area.

Through a collaboration of our efforts and those of our philanthropic partners who support our work, we see refugees developing fluency in English, successfully preparing for their citizenship exam, graduating from high school and confidently navigating the many complex systems of the U.S. including education, healthcare, employment, transportation and personal finances.

The average refugee spends 17 years in a refugee camp waiting to come to a country where they can find safety and freedom. Of those who resettle in the Bay Area, many reach out to Refugee Transitions. We have a long wait list of refugees who have requested our services. It is our goal to meet their needs, but we cannot do so without your help. Please join our efforts to serve those on our wait list by making a gift today.

Sincerely,

Laura Vaudreuil
Executive Director

Donate to RT this Holiday Season!

A message from Marissa Escalante, board member and chair of the fundraising committee:

I started out with RT as a volunteer and signed up for a 6 month commitment to help tutor and mentor two young Liberian refugees, Blessing and Karim. Here I am 4 years later, still working with the same great kids and now a board member for 3 years.  All those who know me have heard the wonderful and funny stories about Blessing and Karim, be it their educational achievements to teaching me the latest dance moves!  My time with these two has been nothing but rewarding.

Additionally, through my experience with RT as a board member I have had the pleasure of seeing this organization’s mission put to work.  In only the last 3 years RT has partnered with the Oakland Unified School District, San Francisco International High School, Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, and other local organizations, and expanded programs and services into Santa Clara County. Such growth is a true testament not only to the great need for these services, but also to RT’s reputation.

While there are many other organizations that strive for social change, I chose RT because of its high level of involvement in my surrounding community and because RT serves an especially vulnerable group of individuals – most of whom have fled violence and unbearable hardship in their native countries. RT’s programs provide these individuals with the confidence to believe in themselves and in their ability to become self-sufficient in a brand new environment.

This holiday season, I hope you will join me in this effort to support refugees and immigrants in the Bay Area!

Marissa Escalante
RT Board Member