: Family Mentorship

There is a never-ending need to rescue innocent men, women and children from the ravages of war occurring in various parts of the world. As globalization progresses, no nation can afford to turn a blind eye on the events taking place in other countries. We must pool resources to assist in conflict resolution, resettlement of displaced families and individuals, while seeking funding for organizations such as the Alliance to work directly with refugees to start rebuilding their lives.

Helping Alliance for African Assistance of San Diego, with the gift of your time is simple: contact the volunteer program coordinator at (619) 286-9052 ext. 35  or fill out the application and send via fax at 619-286-9053. Also you can contact by e-mail: gm@alliance-for-africa.org. Volunteer opportunities vary with each department. Please review our programs from the individual department pages listed below and then contact volunteer program coordinator directly.

      Here are just some of the reasons why volunteering is  an unforgettable  experience.

                                                    Benefits to the Volunteer

             Learn more about other people and yourself.

             Communicate with others by sharing your time and talents.

             Help someone adapt to life in the United States.

             Understand aspects of another culture.

             Gain a new perspective on International events.

             Develop an appreciation for the freedom and material blessings of the USA.

                               Benefits to Refugees

 For refugees, partnership with AAA’s Volunteer’s  is an opportunity to:

                 Share the story of the country and life they left behind.

                 Acquire and practice speaking English.

                 Ask questions about American culture.

                 Become acquainted with their community.

                 Help meeting the challenges of building a new life.

A refugee is a person who is afraid to go home. According to the 1951 United Nations convention on refugees, a refugee is a person who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”

But that description does not begin to tell the story of the traumas refugees endure. Usually forced to leave their homes suddenly, their possessions are reduced to what they can carry—sometimes no more than the clothes on their backs.

Once refugees cross into a neighboring country, they are interviewed by U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees staff to determine their status. Those who meet the criteria are documented as refugees and allowed to remain in that country, usually in a refugee camp.

They flee for safety  to neighboring  countries where  some face  inhospitality, many face the harsh conditions of overcrowded refugee camps and all face an uncertain future. Then they wait—for many months, even years. Harsh conditions, overcrowding, lack of privacy, and inadequate food, water, sanitation and medical care are common in camps. Everyone faces the grinding tedium of passing time without sufficient income-generating activities for the adults or educational opportunities for the children.

The few refugees fortunate enough to be repatriated often find their homeland devastated by war. Some refugees stay in the country where they are waiting, but other countries have difficulty absorbing refugees into their economies. Resettlement in a third country is an option for less than one percent of all refugees.

Each year the president, in consultation with Congress, sets the number of refugees who may be resettled in the United States. Refugees who want to come here must register with a U.S. State Department representative and be interviewed by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service staff. Those approved for admission are allocated among the resettlement agencies.

The Alliance for African Assistance is a non-profit organization and as such depends on the support of individuals like you to accomplish our work for refugees. Your support will help us save lives, alleviate suffering and restore the livelihoods of refugees.   Your help brings New Hope and New Life to refugees.

Your support of the Alliance is of critical importance to the lives of refugees - at times, a matter of life or death. By making a gift to the Alliance you are making a testimony to your commitment to the freedom, dignity and well-being of refugees. Life income gifts are just one of many ways to support the work of the Alliance. Each of these gifts can also be established to provide for a loved one if so desired.

Make a donation to Alliance for African Assistance by phone (1-800-711-0029), on-line, or    by regular mail. By your caring act, you are helping your neighbors near and far build a   brighter future. Help refugees to establish a new home. Get in touch with our office. Beyond the all-important immediate support, please be sure to consider Alliance for African Assistance when making your estate plans, creating bequests, and establishing life income gifts.

Volunteer your own foreign language skills at your local courthouse, hospital, fire/police department, school, or community center. Written translation  and oral interpretation is desperately needed in many communities. Drive a refugee to a medical appointment

Offer to take a refugee with you to your next sports event, concert, or movie. Take a refugee to your local library and help him or her get a library card. Help refugees prepare their taxes. Volunteer to teach an English as a Second Language class. Offer to teach computer skills (at any level) to refugees. Donate old computers to refugees. Tutor a refugee child. Donate professional clothing. Take a refugee family on a picnic to a state park or recreation center. Write your congressman in support of refugee programs.

Who are refugees? How did they become refugees? Where do they come from and where will they go? What are their needs? What will happen to those who arrive in the United States? Learning about the plight of the world^s 14 million refugees is the first step to ministering to them. Studying the immigrant roots and family experiences of your congregation can foster a sense of kinship with those in need of refuge today.

Each culture has a unique identity just as each individual has. Learning about the history, customs, and values of a culture will help you understand the needs of the people of that culture and the special challenges they might face as they resettle in American society.

Learn about public policy regarding refugees.  Keep apprised of developments in U.S. immigration policy. Support in receiving continuing education. Language courses, cross-cultural training and experiences, and seminars on refugee work can benefit refugee ministries and those who lead them. Encourage budgeting for such continuing education for those who direct your congregation^s involvement with refugees. Use the media, both church and community, to spread the word about service to refugees. Human-interest stories that portray positive experiences of interactions between communities and newcomers help foster welcoming attitudes toward refugees.

The AAA’s fund provides medical care, family reunification, job    transportation, prenatal care and other urgent needs of newly   arrived refugees. Refugees come to the United States from a wide range of cultural, educational and economic backgrounds. Share your knowledge and experience about finding employment, handling personal finances, making basic car repairs and using public transportation.

Help refugees learn their rights and advocate for themselves in situations such as dealing with landlords and filing complaints with consumer protection agencies. Guide newcomers through the American social landscape including educational and health care systems. Share your knowledge with others. As you learn about the needs and cultures of refugees - including how policies affect them and why we should serve them -- share your newfound understanding with others in your congregation and community. Use AAA resources to inform others about refugee issues. Take advantage of formal and informal settings to educate and enlighten.

AAA has special programs for meeting the needs of unaccompanied refugee children, providing legal rights information and translation assistance. For your convenience, AAA accepts donations online and by mail or phone . Consider gifts of stock or real property as well as cash donations, and look into matching gift programs through your employer.

Community services such as libraries and hospitals may need resources and assistance to translate forms and serve non-English speaking populations. Help enroll newcomers in English as a Second Language classes or get training  to teach such classes.    

                      Support refugee employment.

If you are an employer, consider how refugees might fit into your workforce. If you are aware of refugee cottage industries, purchase their handicrafts, help with marketing, share your knowledge of U.S. business practices, and help them avoid exploitation.

                                    Support refugees as they help one another.

Former refugees now sponsoring relatives to join them in the United States may appreciate assistance with facilitating the process and helping new arrivals get settled. Refugee self-help groups, often known as mutual assistance associations may also have needs you can help meet.