RR office
Community Support
RR provides community assistance and support to improve lives and promote aspirations of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, in particular but not exclusively Syrians and other Arabic speakers in the UK.
Refugee Support: In response to the growing number of Syrian refugees in the UK, RR has established an advice service that provides support with benefits, job searches, and immigration matters, thus working to improve the economic and social well-being of Syrians and refugees from other countries, helping them to become self-reliant in their new country. RR also endeavours to relieve or prevent poverty among refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, in particular but not exclusively, Syrians. RR provides advice regarding education, housing and employment. Education and training are also provided in computer skills, entrepreneurship, and volunteering opportunities, mainly in English.
Social Inclusion: RR promotes social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants from becoming socially excluded. RR provides education and training in English language and culture; promotes the arts culture and heritage of refugee communities; and provides recreational facilities that bring communities together and relieve isolation.
Social Gatherings: RR also brings the Syrian community together during these difficult times in their mother country. RR organises social gatherings, in particular but not exclusively, for the Syrian community during Eid days and Christmas and Easter holidays, a time when many may feel particularly lonely or isolated, away from family and friends.
Annual Syrian Day: Our annual 'Syrian Fun Day' is a celebration of Syrian heritage that brings together hundreds of people from all over the country. Typically hosted during the summer, this event is widely attended by guests and dignitaries who enjoy Syrian food and explore a market-style array of clothing, literature, souvenirs, and more.
Monthly Seminars and Movie Screenings: As implied by our name Rethink Rebuild Society, we are heavily invested in stimulating debate and promoting discussion within our community. Our monthly seminars and movie screenings address issues pertaining to Syria or Syrians, or refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants from other countries, and allow for constructive discussion and debate.
For more on our community work click here.
Education Project
As the crisis in Syria spans a number of years, the risk of losing a generation grows with every day that the situation deteriorates. Nearly three million children have not attended school or had any type of education for more than three years. Huge efforts are needed to reduce the impact of the crisis on these children. One such required effort is to bring these children back to school.
Rethink Rebuild Society, in collaboration with a number of charities and organisations, has already initiated educational projects as well as children and adolescent protection programmes. We have helped establish and support schools in several parts of Syria that together are accommodating thousands of Syrian children of varying ages.
These schools aim to develop students spiritually, morally, socially and educationally so that they are equipped to deal effectively with the opportunities and challenges that they encounter in their communities. These schools also support students psychologically, especially given that the majority of them have suffered from the violence that they have witnessed. Moreover, specialist staff are available to help disabled students or students with special needs.
For more on our education work click here.
Advocacy & Policy
In furtherance of the above work, RR strives to raise awareness on issues related to refugees and other immigrants within the British landscape through work on policy and media.
For example, we have worked with policy makers on both local and national scales to address pertinent issues facing British Syrians like:
■ Closure of Syrians' bank accounts
■ Airport stops
■ Police visits to homes
■ Delayed processing times for asylum applications
■ Allowing Syrian dependants into the UK
Because of our daily work with Syrian refugees, we serve as a critical source of information on the Syrian conflict for journalists. Through our professional relationships with these journalists we work on the framework by which refugee crises, particularly in Syria, are discussed.
RR also organises seminars and hosts academic conferences that draw in leading academics and community organisers for discussion and insight on often overlooked aspects of the Syrian conflict and other conflicts in the region.
