Project for Strengthening Organizations Assisting Refugees
Team: Abby Addis, Robin Eure, Elsa Frey
Semester: Summer 2004
Project for Strengthening Organizations Assisting Refugees (Project SOAR)
Spring 2010 Project Proposal
Organizational Mission and Background: The International Rescue Committee serves refugees and communities victimized by oppression or violent conflict worldwide. Founded in 1933, the IRC is committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment is expressed in emergency relief, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement assistance, and advocacy. For 75 years, the International Rescue Committee has been a leader in humanitarian relief. IRC mobilizes quickly, bringing sustained support to regions torn apart by violence and deprivation. IRC also advocates tirelessly on behalf of the displaced, addressing the root causes of violence and standing up for the world's most vulnerable populations. Through the US Programs Department, IRC offers a fresh start in the U.S. for refugees who are legally admitted to resettle here. To this end, IRC provide the tools of self-reliance: housing, food, and clothing, employment and educational programming, community orientation, immigration services, and community-building initiatives.
Project Information: Through the IRC's Project for Strengthening Organizations Assisting Refugees (Project SOAR), the IRC provides training and technical assistance to emerging refugee-serving ethnic community based organizations, many of which have been founded by refugees. Funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Project SOAR is a partnership of the International Rescue Committee and Nationalities Service Center. Project SOAR began its 3rd 3-year cycle on October 1, 2009. This year, Project SOAR is working with 42 ORR grantees across the US. Some of the grantees have worked with Project SOAR during the previous project period while others are entirely new.
Project SOAR's technical assistance focuses on resource development, financial management, board development, external relations and organizational management so that organizations can improve the vital services they provide to refugees. Technical assistance is accomplished through:
- One-on-one consultations via phone and email, open to all ORR grantees.
- More in-depth mentorship for 2-3 selected organizations, including site visits.
- Access to advice, learning materials, and training through participation in Project SOAR's:
- listserv, which sends out regular tip sheets and weekly highlights;
- website, resource library, and discussion forum: www.ethniccommunities.org;
- and 6 webinars on pertinent topics - open to all grantees.
- Group learning and networking opportunities at a national workshop in early February. All grantees are encouraged to attend.
- The opportunity for all organizations to participate in peer learning circles that meet regularly through web forums and phone meetings to share experiences and expertise.
Project Type: Local Resource Mapping
Organizational Needs: Through Project SOAR, IRC provides technical assistance to 42 community-based and other organizations. One of the priority areas for technical assistance this year is promoting refugee organizations to collaborate with mainstream groups and institutions to strengthen their effectiveness and sustainability, promote refugee integration, and to avoid overlap. One element of this technical assistance will be resource mapping. Project SOAR would like interns, in consultation with community-based organizations and other ORR TA providers, to research best practices and map resources for three strategically-selected geographic regions, and develop a user-friendly manual for local resource mapping. Resources will include state and local government, library, faith-based and community-based organizations, colleges and adult education institutes, and private sector initiatives involved in ensuring refugees' integration. ORR grantees in their final quarter of ORR funding will receive these resources, with invitations to speak with a SOAR staff member about their content, and ideas on how to approach new partnership development. The outcome will be a sustainable support network for ORR grantees, even after the grants end.
Project Proposal: Students spearheaded the development of resource maps for three geographic regions and one template guidebook on how to create a regional resource map. Creativity is encouraged in developing the most effective formats for these materials. Below is a description of the students responsibilities and deliverables:
- Research current local resource maps and manuals.
- Research current best practices in resource mapping.
- In consultation with the SOAR team, research and analyze which participating organizations and/or communities would benefit the most from resource maps.
- In consultation with community-based organizations and other ORR technical assistance providers, map resources for three geographic regions, creating support networks for ORR grantees.
- State or community-specific low/no-cost TA resource lists and manuals are produced and hosted on the SOAR website.
- One guidebook on how to do a local resource map is produced.
Supervisor Information: Anne Goforth, Program Officer, 917-332-0810, Anne.Goforth@theIRC.org. Anne Goforth, IRC's recently-hired Program Officer for Project SOAR, has served the IRC in different capacities since 2000. Anne managed various IRC refugee return programs in Croatia and Bosnia from 2000-2005; served as Emergency Grants Manager for IRC's 2005 tsunami response; served as IRC's HQ and donor liaison for its Horn and East Africa programs, based in New York, from 2006-2008, and for the last year and a half led IRC program development and grants coordination in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and the West Bank. Anne joined IRC's US Programs department in October 2009, and holds an M.A. from Northwestern University.
Core Documents
Terms of Reference
Timeline
Final Presentation
Additional Documents
SOAR Website-Final Report and Recommendations.pdf
Navigate: All Summer 2004 practicums