Social Justice Partners

Karavan is a mobile app that facilitates skill/service exchanges between refugees & citizens using a points system.

More than 65 million people are displaced worldwide. One of the greatest challenges facing society is how best to build harmonious and tolerant communities. With the rise of xenophobic nationalism, the potential for a united humanity is threatened.

However, studies show that countless psychological benefits arise from the feeling of achievement associated with working, as well as from nurturing meaningful relationships.

Prohibited from earning money, asylum seekers are left with few social arenas in which to make friends, leading them to feel disconnected, isolated, and demoralized. They are unique individuals with skills and talents. They want to resume normal lives, feel productive — and most of all, feel a sense of belonging in their new communities.

At Karavan, our aim is to break down walls by enabling citizens and refugees to interact as equally empowered participants in a mutually beneficial transaction

HOW IT WORKS

User create profiles detailing the skills and services they would like to offer using our safe and secure network. This could be anything from cooking and language lessons to legal advice, web-design and mental support.

THE FOUNDER

Soraya is a BA/MA student at Columbia University, double-majoring in Film and Middle Eastern studies and specializing in post-colonial marginalization, displacement and migration. She advocates passionately about veganism, environmentalism and issues of exploitation through her website, online store and creative projects. She also studies several languages, and enjoys making documentary films and music.

After having spent time studying, researching, visiting camps and interacting with refugees in Jordan and Europe (including “The Jungle”, northern France’s notorious unofficial refugee camp), Soraya sought an interdisciplinary approach to the crisis, spanning the humanitarian, political and academic realms.

She wanted to develop an innovative tech solution that had significant scaleability; to create a global movement. The aim was to supersede typical humanitarian responses, which are sometimes demeaning or unsustainable.

Crowdfunding campaign: http://www.launchgood.com/karavan 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/refugeeworkexchange/ 
https://www.facebook.com/refugeeworkexchange 
www.karavanapp.co.uk 
Instagram: @karavansary 
Enquiries:  

Location: London, United Kingdom

The first Global Read for 2017 was held on Feb. 22, and featured Harriet Levin Millan—author of "How Fast Can You Run."

Marilyn Turkovich, director of the Charter for Compassion International, noted that the focus of the Global Read program is to lift up the writing of Charter Partners. Marilyn observed that "How Fast Can You Run" has received very positive reviews for Harriet Levin Millan's "incredible storytelling." Marilyn added, "as I opened the first few pages, the thing that struck me so much was this was a story of inspiration and it was inspiration under impossible circumstances." She shared her hope that it would help each of us recognize "we carry the power we need inside of ourselves to transform the world that we live in." 

Harriet is the director of the Certificate Program in Writing and Publishing at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and teacher of writing in Drexel's English Department. Michael Majok Kuch, the subject of Harriet's novel, was featured in the PBS documentary series Dinka Diaries, and was one of the so-called "Lost Boys of Sudan." He began is migrant journey at the age of five, when his village was attacked. After coming to the U.S. and receiving an education, he has returned to South Sudan, where he works in the Office of the President.

Listen to an audio podcast of the complete, 50-minute interview on SoundCloud.  

Links from the call: Michael reunited with his mother https://www.goodreads.com/videos/108218-michael-majok-kuch-s-reunion-with-his-mother-after-22-years

The groups Harriet mentioned:
VAD Foundation http://www.vadfoundation.org/
Mothering Across Continents http://www.motheringacrosscontinents.org/
Global Motivation Motivators http://www.gem-ngo.org/
John Dau Foundation http://www.johndaufoundation.org/
Love Orphanage http://www.loveorphanage.org/

Marilyn's articles on Poland (see right column for menu):
Poland Online Exhibit: https://www.charterforcompassion.org/poland

To purchase the book and benefit the Charter, please consider using Amazon Smile.

The next Global Read event is scheduled for May 4 and features "From Hero to Healer," by Robin Youngson, a doctor based in New Zealand. He runs and organization called Hearts in Healthcare (http://heartsinhealthcare.com/). He talks in the book about the five biggest mistakes in his life, and how those have been teachable moments for him. To get the book and register visit this page.

Compassion is a huge part of our culture and fabric. Compassion for diversity and inclusion. We fight for those values, and against racism, sexism, homophobia or other harmful 'isms.'

We explore the world of men and manhood in a way that no media company ever has, tackling the issues and questions that are most relevant to men’s lives. We write about fatherhood, family, sex, ethics, war, gender, politics, sports, pornography, and aging. We shy away from nothing. Our content reflects the multidimensionality of men — we are alternatively funny and serious, provocative and thoughtful, earnest and light hearted.

We search far and wide for new stories and new voices from “the front lines of modern manhood.” And we do it without moralizing and without caricaturizing our audience; we let guys be guys, but we do it while challenging confining cultural notions of what a “real man” must be.

Location: Pasadena, CA, USA

https://goodmenproject.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thegoodmenproject/

Mil-tree is a nonprofit organization with the mission to bring together veterans, active-duty military, and civilians in order to help each other to address the wounds of the soul through communication and art.

Through Mil-Tree, diverse people in the community come together to increase mutual understanding and respect, and are provided with safe opportunities to express, help process, and support the healing of soul wounds, especially those of war, through the power of storytelling, speak-outs, dialogue, healing retreats, art, music, movement, and nature.

Location: Joshua Tree, CA, USA

http://www.mil-tree.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Mil-Tree-189046354561288/?ref=bookmarks