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Connecting Refugees

Connecting Refugees harnesses online social networking and mobile technology tools to aid refugees in resettlement. Our goal is to connect and impact the world's most disenfranchised people to others outside their refugee community and those who serve them. Our project is global in scope as refugees are all over the world along with the people who serve them. Often refugees struggle with learning about their new country, adding undue stress to an already stressful situation. Our project connects these refugees with others who share stories, video, photos, and their experiences about settling in the new country and enables refugees to connect with one another. Through these connections we will help ease fears and anxieties about resettlement and foster global connections. Our project will also connect humanitarian aid workers with resettlement resources and others going similar work. Both refugees and aid workers will be able to upload their own content to our project Ning site (http://connectingrefugees.ning.com) making it a continuously updated resource that is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week, and available in one place. The Ning web site can be accessed through an Internet browser (i.e., Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera Mobile, etc.) and via a web site designed for mobile phones (http://connectingrefugees.ning.com/m). In addition to the online social network, our project will purchase Internet-ready mobile phones to distribute to refugee camp workers to spread access to the network and enhance connections.

Project Details
Project Assessment
Financial support: 
No
Sustainability Model: 
Connecting Refugees currently does not have financial support but is run through a free social networking web site called Ning. Staff time is volunteered to the project.
Expertise needed: 
Marketing/Media Expertise: - How to connect to online social networks<br /> - How to broaden the reach of Connecting Refugees<br /> - How to learn about Fundraising and gathering interest around the project
Technical Expertise: - Recommendations for mobile phones available in refugee camps; to help close the digital divide we are considering using iPhones. We plan to make use of the Ning mobile web site interface (http://connectingrefugees.ning.com/m).
Project goals: 
March 2009Reach 100 members, including refugees, humanitarian aid workers, and volunteer staff Post 20 videos about resettlement experiencesPost 20 stories about resettlementMay 2009Connect 10 refugee camps via Connecting RefugeesResearch mobile phones for use in refugee campsDecember 2009Connect 30 refugee camps via Connecting RefugeesPurchase and distribute 25 mobile phones to aid workers in refugee camps
Identified Obstacles: 
Finding affordable mobile phones for developing countries (i.e., the Little Smart phonein China)Finding reliable mobile phone networks (i.e., connectivity)Finding reliable and affordable mobile phone service providers (i.e., http://www.gsmworld.com/our-work/development-fund/role-and-objectives/partners.htm)Politics in developing countries affecting service, access, and connectivityInteragency collaboration turf, resource, and political battles

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