The founders of NiJeL have worked with refugee resettlement organizations and see a great need for refugees, volunteers, and caseworkers to efficiently access and analyze spatial data on low-cost housing, employment, transportation, and other services. Refugees develop local knowledge about their communities that can benefit others, but don’t have a forum to exchange information easily. We will create a participatory mapping forum that can be replicated to any city where refugees are resettled.

Our web-based, open-source mapping tool will create a one-stop shop powered by refugees and their providers that will fulfill the needs of newly-resettled refugees and assist overloaded caseworkers and volunteers with spatial information. This participatory mapping and analysis tool will incorporate transportation, health care, employment, shopping, low-income housing, community centers, schools, second-hand stores, food-banks and any other services necessary to the community.

Refugees will be able to know where all the services around them are, either through the web or through paper maps. They will also be able to contribute their developing local knowledge of their community through our simple web interface, cell phone SMS, or by informing volunteers or caseworkers who can easily upload the information.

The time that caseworkers save with this tool in locating refugees' housing, employment, services, and transportation will give them more time to meet with their clients and help keep them from falling behind.

The resettlement organizations will be able to know and document that they are making the best decisions based on proximity to services, transportation, and community when they locate refugees to homes and assign them to employment.

WHAT WE NEED:

NiJeL's ability to impact the lives of refugees newly resettled in the US is dependent on getting funds to support database and website development.

Location