Dec 9 13
Refugees United and FilmAid to Screen Films in Refugee Camps Across Africa
Family separation represents an often-overlooked emotional burden facing the estimated 45 million people forcibly displaced by war, conflict, or disaster. In addition to the homes they have been forced to leave behind, a staggering percentage lose contact with friends and family in their scramble for food, shelter and safety. Refugees United and FilmAid have partnered to produce a new TV campaign for separated refugee families. This pilot project aims to harness the power of television to reconnect separated refugee families. Filming interviews in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya, where Refugees United maintains a mobile family-tracing programme, together with the…
Dec 2 13
Refugees United, Google+, Mashable, Google Kenya and UNHCR to partner on #GivingTuesday.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2013 10AM EST, Refugees United is joining Google+, Mashable and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as one of the partners in the first ever live “Hangout-a-thon,” a 12-hour event on Google+ that will feature content from a variety of nonprofits, celebrities, and socially responsible businesses. The initiative is part of #GivingTuesday, a nationwide effort in the US to inspire people to give back to their communities and to raise awareness about nonprofit organizations that work to give back everyday. Building on Refugees United’s successful Google+ Hangouts On Air Series entitled #FamilyIs, Refugees United and partners will participate in…
Nov 29 13
#FamilyIs… Reconnections On Air
Did you miss the first 3 installments of our #familyis campaign, reconnecting families On Air for Thanksgiving? Watch here: Tuesday, November 19th: A Congolese man reconnects with his uncle after seven years of separation Monday, November 25th: A Congolese family comes together for the first time in six years Tuesday, November 26th: Two Congolese brothers separated for 15 years have a chance to see each others face On Air
Nov 27 13
Family Is… Joy
Originally posted by Angela Rupchock-Schafer, Social Media Manager, CWS We all do it. We get so caught up in the day-to-day bits and pieces of our lives, sometimes we forget to sit back and marvel when joy finds us. For the past month, CWS has been working together with Google+, RYOT news, UNHCR and Refugees United to make something new and vibrant happen in the world of communications. And in the heat of the moment, I almost missed the magic we made possible together as a team. Soni and his nephew, Edmond, have not seen each other for seven years. Torn apart by the conflict in the…
Nov 19 13
#FamilyIs: Refugees United launches Global “Family Is…” Campaign on Google+ to connect separated refugee families Thanksgiving is a time for family to be together. But not everyone is fortunate enough to be with their family. This holiday season, Refugees United, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Church World Service (CWS), will bring together families torn apart by war and disaster on Google+ via the free, multi-person broadcast video calling feature, Hangouts On Air. In a series entitled ”Family Is,” family members in Kenya will be able to see the faces of family members resettled in the US who they…
Oct 31 13
Going Low-Tech to Achieve High-Tech Solutions
Panelists pictured above On Saturday, students and professionals learned that sometimes one has to go low-tech to bring disconnected families onto a high-tech platform. Speaking at the annual Net Impact Conference in Silicon Valley, CA, Refugees United co-founder David Mikkelsen shared the successes that his organization has seen through their “low-tech” call-center and toll-free telephone lines. “We must remember that millions of people around the world still don’t have access to the internet,” Mr. Mikkelsen reflected, while also listing other barriers, such as illiteracy. In their quest to reconnect families separated by war, conflict and disaster, Refugees United and partners…
Oct 30 13
Refugees United Receives a Lovie Award
October 30, 2013— In recognition of the short documentary video, Lost and Found—the story of Refugees United, Refugees United has been awarded the 3rd annual Lovie Award. This video was chosen out of nearly 1,500 entries from over 30 countries in Europe. The 3rd Annual Lovie Awards recognizes the unique nature of the European Internet community – from Europe’s top web and creative networks to cultural and political organizations. The award is given those who exemplify excellence on the Internet. Presented and judged by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a body of leading web experts, business figures,…
Oct 22 13
iHub innovation tech hub in Nairobi!
Nairobi, Kenya—On 17th October 2013, more than 100 techies and aid workers gathered to discuss and share insights on technological innovations in the humanitarian field, marking the launch of the 2013 World Disasters Report. Held at the iHub, an innovation hub for Nairobi’s tech community, organizations such as the Kenya Red Cross, the UN World Food Programme and BBC Media came together to showcase their use of technology in humanitarian action. Refugees United was invited to showcase our online and mobile family tracing platform, which is now accessible through even basic mobile phones without internet in selected African countries. Everyone…
Oct 15 13
Silicon Valley Can Learn From Africa’s Techies
David Mikkelsen, co-founder of Refugees United, said last week that developers and innovators in Silicon Valley can learn a lot from Africa’s fast-growing startup scene and it’s use of simple mobile solutions with a big impact. Speaking last week at the Digital Leaders event in Silicon Valley, Mr. Mikkelsen made the case that developers and entrepreneurs in Africa are at the forefront of the mobile revolution, especially when it comes to developing groundbreaking mobile solutions with limited resources and investments.
“It is time for a radical new approach to innovation, combining high-tech and low-tech,” said Mr. Mikkelsen. The Digtial Leaders Event brings…
Sep 30 13
The Emmanuel Jal event in Kakuma Refugee Camp was a huge success! More than 18,000 refugees came to hear the performance. Pictured with the Refugees United team above, Emmanuel Jal is a staunch advocate for Refugees United and spoke about the importance of online family tracing at the event. More here: https://refunite.tumblr.com/post/62418802926/emmanuel-jal-to-highlight-refugees-united-on-we-want
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