Today, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced, a number that has doubled in the past decade due to global conflicts like the war in Ukraine and climate change. It is clear actionable solutions are needed to help those fleeing from dangerous situations.
On World Refugee Day, Zendesk is proud to join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in their call for the private sector to create long term solutions and empower refugees through upskilling, innovation, and funding support. We would like to recognize our nonprofit partners who are a lifeline for refugees.
Globally ReUp’s upskilling initiative
Globally ReUP, is a refugee upskilling program that matches newly arrived Afghans with job opportunities in the tech industry. ReUp is one of 25 Tech for Good Impact Award grant recipients from 2022.
The Tech for Good Impact Award helps us support more candidates, scale our work, and grow sustainably. We want to track candidates in a data-driven and efficient manner, while retaining our trademark relationship-based approach. With tools like Zendesk Support and Explore, it is easier to manage our participant case management, ensuring they receive the best assistance possible along their path of new student to new hire. We were also able to hire additional team members, including an Afghan evacuee, to serve our beneficiaries. We recently increased our throughput of candidates by 235%. We are excited to take this even further now that the Zendesk team has helped us configure our systems to grow even more. We will continue to expand our employer partnerships, scale our reach and grow the number of ReUP graduates out there in the tech industry. – Alex McLeod, Program Lead, ReUp
IRC promotes independence through innovation
The IRC helps people whose lives are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Zendesk has been a supporter of the IRC since 2019 and Tech for Good currently supports five innovative IRC programs.
Signpost is a community-led information service that empowers its clients in times of crisis. Signpost delivers critical information through staff equipped with digital tools, digital channels and social media — providing communities with timely and actionable information to make critical decisions on the issues that matter most to them. Signpost has helped over 5 million people make life-saving decisions in more than 18 countries. Zendesk also provides support to IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity, Afghanistan P2 Program, Phoenix Welcome Center, and the Central American Minors (CAM) Program Hotline.
Additional refugee and immigrant justice nonprofits
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) works to unite immigrants, refugees, allies, and community leaders guaranteeing access to immigration lawyers and fighting for fundamental human rights for immigrants. NYIC and Immigrant Arc provide legal advocates and an immigration law training and policy institute to fight for New York’s immigrant communities.
Welcome Collective helps vulnerable refugees in Montreal, specifically single parents, pregnant women, mothers with newborns, large families with young children, people with physical and mental challenges, and the elderly. The organization connects newly arrived families with locals who help them gather donated furniture and other essential items for their homes.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (IMMDEF) is a next-generation, 501(c)3 social justice law firm that defends immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. against injustices in the immigration court system. With tens of thousands of men, women, and children currently being held at the U.S. border and in detention centers in dangerous conditions, groups like IMMDEF are needed now more than ever.
About Tech for Good
The Impact Awards is an initiative of the Zendesk Tech for Good program, which supports increased access to tools and technology products for organizations that require best in class software to scale their services. Started in 2018, Tech for Good partners with nonprofit organizations to help them better manage their services and create more impact for their communities. The program currently partners with over 100 organizations and has donated over $7 million in product and services to nonprofits around the world. For more information about this year’s Tech For Good Impact Awards, visit here.