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Chicago Refugee Relief Fund

Posted on | by Henry Montesano

Every day, the refugee crisis happening around the world becomes more and more dire. Thousands of refugees are seeking asylum, specifically Turkish refugees fleeing to Greece to seek safety and refuge. These refugees flee from violence, war, political, and religious persecution. They have no choice but to uproot their lives and relocate in hopes of finding a better life and future for their children and family. These refugees are in critical need of assistance and help to learn a completely new way of life in order to not only survive, but to also thrive.

Right now, there are thousands of displaced families fleeing from Turkey to Greece. Upon arrival, they are put into refugee camps for a few weeks. After this, they often displaced again with nowhere to go. The thought of not having a place to call “home” breaks their hearts, as it does ours. Together with our partner Turkish American Society of Chicago (TASC), Embrace Relief is calling upon those who have a humanitarian spirit to help provide emergency housing. This housing is often temporary because the refugees flee to other European countries.

The number of displaced refugee families rises every single day and is expected to increase in the coming months. Refugees arrive in Greece with nothing and face the daunting task of finding a place to stay. Furthermore, available jobs are scarce and often impossible to come by, so it is difficult for families to save money or gain capital.

Due to the gracious donors and volunteers, we are able to provide emergency housing, food, healthcare, financial, psychological, and legal support to those who need it most. We now offer English courses to these Turkish refugees through our English Language Conversational Partnerships program. Many want to learn English because it is a prominent language in Europe and around the world, just in case they want or have to migrate to a different country.

Donate below so you can become a worldwide hero and start changing lives today:

Donate For Refugee Today!

World Kindness Day 2019

Posted on | by Henry Montesano
Happy World Kindness Day, everyone! This is a very special and globally celebrated day throughout countries around the world. Created by the World Kindness Movement, November 13th is dedicated to spreading kindness and showing compassion to one another. With all of the chaos that is going on around the world and in our daily lives, today is a day to stop and appreciate what we have and the people in our lives. Here are some simple ways to be kind to one another:
  1. Send a nice text message to a friend or family member
  2. Hold the door for a stranger
  3. Donate to a good cause
Caring for one another is something that intrinsically connects us all as human beings. It is what bridges the gaps between cultures and nations worldwide. This international holiday is the perfect opportunity to show others that you care not just today, but every day. We encourage you to celebrate World Kindness Day by donating to refugees in Greece. Many refugees have faced traumatic experiences because they have been forced from their homes and have lost everything they owned. By donating, you are showing an appreciation and compassion towards your global family.   Click here or donate below to show support for refugees in Greece, or click this link to learn more about World Kindness Day.  

SUNY Oswego Chemistry Club Water Well

Posted on | by Henry Montesano

Despite having clean water to drink and bathe in, the chemists at SUNY Oswego understand the importance of clean water in another way. At SUNY Oswego, the STEM faculty members and students have the luxury of being able to use clean water every single day for different guided lab experiments as well as in research projects. Without this clean water, these learning experiences and groundbreaking research projects would be impossible. Since the students and faculty members at SUNY Oswego understand the importance of clean water in our everyday life, we would like to be part of this project to help bring clean water to those in need. Please consider helping us fund a well in a location with little to no access to safe drinking water!

Merve’s Story

Posted on | by Henry Montesano
Embrace Relief has been hard at work monitoring the refugee crisis in Greece. As the number of migrants heading there continues to rise, we’ve been helping provide Refugees with the basics that they need including food, water, and psychiatric support. In addition, we have our English Language Conversational Partnerships Program which helps teach refugees English as it is a prominent language spoken in Europe and around the world. Recently,  We have touched base with one of the refugees who’s signed up for the program, and her name is Merve! Once a week for one hour she takes classes with her assigned tutor via video chat to practice her English speaking skills.  Here is her story: “In 2016, my family and I were forced to flee from our country due to political persecution. One day, my father, mother, little sister and brother, and I packed our things and took off for a free life. I could not understand what had happened. Suddenly, we were in Greece and my whole life was behind me. After a difficult and tiring journey, we finally reached the Greece border and were immediately sent to a Refugee Camp. Starting over in a foreign country is overwhelming and I began to lose my sense of identity. Everything was so different, I even lost track of time and didn’t realize I had spent my 16th birthday in the Refugee Camp – but that was okay because we were together and safe. Entering a foreign country can be extremely frustrating when you don’t understand the language or culture It was difficult to find a place to stay, where to eat, and to learn in school. I decided to sign up for Embrace Relief’s English Language Conversational Partnership because I thought it would help me to learn, make friends, and communicate with others around me. Embrace Relief’s English classes have given me the confidence to pursue my dreams of going to college to study either study medicine, international law, or become a surgeon in Norway or Holland. All of these schools are English speaking, and I now have to confidence to apply and earn a degree. I want to say ‘Thank You!’ to Embrace Relief for helping me with my English. I am so grateful and thankful to have the opportunity to take part in this incredible program!”   Merve’s story is truly inspiring and we cannot thank her enough for reaching out to us to talk about what she and her family had gone through. As this is an on-going crisis, and refugees will need everything they can to survive and adapt to a country completely brand new to them. You can help support Refugees today by clicking here.  

KATRE Water Well

Posted on | by Henry Montesano
Code Country Town/Village Inauguration Depth Serving
Chad Ada Isa 09.28.2019 45m / 148ft 1,200 people

New Jersey Newcomers Support Fund

Posted on | by Henry Montesano

The United States is the world’s most sought after resettlement country for refugees. Just like refugees everywhere, refugees coming to the US often end up here without the means to start a new life – just happy enough to flee from the oppression and troubles in their home country.

The United States is a great country on welcoming refugees and asylees but provides limited funds and resources for refugees. After the initial resettlement period, they struggle heavily since there are not enough structured relief services for supporting their educational, social, and financial needs. One of the important challenges many newcomers face is to find a house to live and a job to start earning income. Since they do not have a credit history in the US, it is hard for them to rent a house.

To address this issue, as a continuation of our previous Embrace the Newcomers campaign, we are launching a new fundraiser in partnership with the Turkish Cultural Center and New World Volunteers to help these newcomers. This joint fundraiser specifically aims to provide funds for Turkish refugees and asylum seekers to rent a house, purchase basic needs, pay legal fees, and cover education costs.

Jannah Water Well IV

Posted on | by Henry Montesano
Code Country Town/Village Inauguration Depth Serving
Chad Gassi 04.08.2020 45m / 148ft 1,000 people
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Cleveland Education Fund

Posted on | by Henry Montesano

Embrace Relief will be establishing a scholarship fund for college students. As many of you know, Embrace Relief is dedicated to assisting our local communities in need and helping those who are financially struggling

The cost of higher education in the United States is incredibly high and it only continues to rise, making it even more difficult for a growing number of people. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013–2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for state residents at public colleges, and $22,203 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. For the majority of students, the only way to attend college is through securing student loans which often times only cover the cost of tuition.

Criteria for Applicants

Embrace Relief is raising money for Education Fund to give scholarships to a number of hardworking students for their undergraduate studies. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

1) A Child of a refugee family or he/she is self a refugee.

2) Possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

To apply, an applicant must write a 750-1,000 word essay about what he/she plans to do in college, how he/she plans on giving back in his/her life, and what volunteering means to him/her. We are accepting applications anytime. Please submit essays along with your full name, University, and cumulative GPA.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]