The Refugee Response

The Refugee Response (TRR) was formed to help refugees adjust to life in Northeast Ohio. We work to empower our area's growing newcomer population, particularly those here between three months and five years by providing opportunities to acquire the skills they need to succeed in their new communities. Each year 1,300 to 1,900 refugees settle in Oh... io. Since 2007, Cuyahoga County has welcomed over 850 refugees from countries including Burma, Bhutan, Somalia, Ukraine, Russia and Iraq. Refugees legally enter the U.S. seeking freedom, peace and opportunity for themselves and their families. After resettlement, they start new lives with limited resources transitioning from their past and the lives they once knew. Through targeted research and extensive involvement within Northeast Ohio's resettled refugee community, The Refugee Response recognizes newcomers both need and seek assistance with English language, basic cultural orientation and employment training in order to become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. TRR is currently engaged in three primary initiatives to achieve these goals. Our Home Tutoring program matches volunteers with members of resettled refugee families, who help with language acquisition, cultural understanding, homework help, and practical skills. REAP is an agricultural training program that employs and trains refugees at the Ohio City Farm. Classrooms Connect is a future initiative that will link students in Cleveland schools to those in refugee camps in Thailand via multimedia tools. Our work would not be possible without the selfless support we receive from those that believe in our mission. The services we provide for our community's refugee population are made possible by the generous contributions of many individual donors, foundations, and corporations.Read More