About Us
Mission statement: The mission of the Alliance for African Assistance is to serve refugees, immigrants, and the most vulnerable among us to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community.
The Alliance was founded as a Christian organization and enjoys strong support from churches and other centers of faith. We are an inclusive organization and welcome people of all faiths, or none, to our board, staff, volunteers, as donors and as clients.
The Alliance for African Assistance was founded in 1989 in San Diego, California. It was founded by Walter Lam, a refugee, with the aim of addressing the many needs of San Diego’s growing African refugee population. The Alliance assists, by means of generous contributions and grants, new arrivals in adjusting to American culture. The Alliance for African Assistance has remained unceasing in its dedication to provide social, cultural, and educational support and guidance to all refugees in their resettlement process.
For over 30 years, the Alliance for African Assistance has worked to provide assistance here in the United States and abroad, to refugees, internally displaced persons, immigrants, those seeking asylum, victims of torture and war, distressed women and children and those suffering from economic hardship.
Today we remain dedicated to providing social, cultural, and educational support to all refugees in the resettlement process. Such assistance includes preparing host families; securing safe and affordable housing, help with rent and transportation, health screenings, enrolling children in school, English language classes and translation services, and job assistance and training. We have successfully resettled more than 20,000 refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ethiopia, Liberia, Eritrea, Vietnam, Iran, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Burma, Afghanistan, Syria, and Russia.
We work with a large number of partners to maximize our impact. Partners include:
United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)
State of California - Refugee Health
Solana Beach Presbyterian Church
Community Technology Foundation of California
National Organization for Somali Benadiri
St. Stephen Church of God
Best Start
East African Community of Orange County
St. Luke Episcopal Church
Claremont Covenant Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church
South East Presbyterian Church
Presbytery of San Diego
Crossroads Community Church
Bethel Memorial AME Church
Shadow Mountain Community Church
La Jolla Presbyterian Church
City of San Diego
County of San Diego
San Diego Foundation
Parker Foundation
South Sudan Christian Youth & Community Organization
El Cajon Covenant Church
Las Patronas
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
San Diego Interdenominational Alliance
State of California-Refugee Programs
Faith Presbyterian Church
Arbor E&T / ResCare
Workforce Partnership
San Diego Community College District
Ethiopian Community Development Council. Inc. (ECDC)
US Department of Health & Human Services - Office of Refugee Resettlement
Eurika Communities
Amnesty International
Haines Solar Cookers