The Off Ramp

He logged onto our call from the university, gray walls behind him, having just finished an exam. Bernard didn't want to miss talking to us, so he sat down on the floor right there to visit.

Bernard fled Afghanistan after his father and brother were killed and his own life was threatened. He's spent the past several years chasing one door after another toward safety and an education, applying to universities across Europe and beyond, only to be turned away again and again.

A university in Hungary finally accepted him, and he's been attending classes there while waiting on the one piece of paperwork he still needs. He's down to a single door now. He needs a student visa from Pakistan by the end of this month, or he loses the opportunity he's worked years to reach.

We're one week into raising $7,000 to help cover efforts like his, funds that go toward things like tuition, room and board, and the ongoing support he needs while he waits. We've already reached $4,000. Read Bernard's full story on our blog, linked below, and if it moves you, we'd be so grateful for your support.

Bernard's story, and a looming deadline As he logged onto our Zoom call, we saw gray walls and a door behind him. Bernard told us he was still at the university, having just finished an exam, and realized it was time for the call. He didn't want to miss talking to us, so he sat down on the floor right there to visit.Bernard is a refugee f...

There's something special about sitting down with someone and passing along a skill that could change their future.

That's exactly what happened when Nell visited our friends at Make Welcome Refugee Sewing School and taught one of our graduates how to make a t-shirt quilt. These quilts are more than a craft project. They're blankets made from memories, carrying the worn-in fabrics of a life already lived, and they make a meaningful gift for graduates or anyone marking a milestone worth celebrating.

For this woman, it's also a skill she can now use to generate income on her own terms.

If you'd like to have a t-shirt quilt made, please reach out to us!