Urban Refugee Protection Program

We support URPP clients directly through our in-house medical clinic, by providing mental health counseling and health education community outreach and by making referrals for specialized care.We also indirectly serve our clients by partnering with local hospitals, NGOs, and government entities to promote policy changes that impact thousands of refugees.

The URPP works to strengthen community health in collaboration with the Kenya Ministry of Health, UNHCR, and other partners through medical outreach events in communities hosting urban refugees, offering treatment and medication for common ailments, providing reading glasses to elderly members of the community,  and lobbying for better treatment of refugees.

Most refugees suffer from residual trauma from their experiences of persecution in their home countries and the precarious flight in search of safety. This trauma is compounded by the hardships of navigating life in a new country, which adds incredible strain for many individuals and families. RefugePoint offers one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and support group services that enable clients to develop self-awareness, deal with trauma, resolve issues, cope with challenges, build social connections, and strengthen peaceful coexistence. RefugePoint also offers life skills training for teenagers and young adults that strengthens their interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Oftentimes, refugees may lack the resources to provide three meals a day for their families. Food support plays an integral role in helping refugee households to stabilize. The food support provided through the URPP aims to improve the nutrition status of our clients through the provision of healthy foods. In addition to direct food support, clients also benefit from nutrition and health education seminars.

RefugePoint provides school fees for refugee children to pursue an education. Going to school isn’t just about advancing their education, but also serves as an essential protection tool. At school, refugee children are able to rebuild critical support systems and integrate into their new communities.

For refugee parents, access to education for their children is crucial. When children attend school, parents have more flexibility to pursue income-generating activities, which helps lead to self-reliance.

We also offer vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities through which adult refugees have the opportunity to build vocational skills.

Our Livelihoods team assesses the ability of refugee clients to start a business and helps them develop business plans and understand budgeting, costing and pricing, marketing, financial management, record-keeping, and savings through business training. With the help of RefugePoint’s Livelihoods program, refugees can access cash grants as the much-needed initial capital to start or scale up existing businesses. All grantees are offered business mentorship, and businesses that have been supported are monitored monthly. In addition, clients who might require business permits are supported to acquire them.

RefugePoint’s social work team works with clients to provide stabilization services (food, rent, household items, education, and child protection). The team conducts case management for RefugePoint’s clients and ensures that all clients have viable self-directed case plans and are on track to work towards self-reliance.

Our Child Protection team assesses the needs of refugee children and makes recommendations regarding care arrangements, education support, and referrals to protection services. Additional long-term assistance is offered to child-headed households.

The Resettlement program at the URPP identifies refugees who are unable to live in safety in Kenya and refers them for lasting solutions to the US, Canada and Australia. Moreover, through its Labor Mobility program, RefugePoint refers skilled refugees for job opportunities in Canada and other countries.  The Family Reunification program provides assistance and support to refugees in Kenya who are seeking to reunite with family members in third countries.

The Community-Based Protection (CBP) unit focuses on strengthening refugee self-reliance and integration through community-led initiatives. It plays a crucial role in identifying and referring refugees to the URPP, enhancing community-based protection and referral systems, ensuring that refugees receive timely and appropriate information and support and sharing refugees’ feedback on RefugePoint’s programs. The unit actively engages in community needs assessments to identify challenges, capacities, and coping mechanisms within refugee communities.

The URPP also provides rent to clients facing extreme vulnerabilities as part of its stabilization program. Rent assistance enables clients to access safe and dignified shelter as they work towards self-reliance. Generally, clients receive rent support during their stabilization period, which can last for six months or more, though this can be extended depending on the needs of the household.