Partnership between International Refugee Assistance Project and Rosetta Stone to help refugees

Low section of a Ukrainian refugee family sitting in a train station waiting to leave Ukraine due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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For the first time in history, more than 100 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced due to war, human rights abuses or persecution in 2022, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

This figure includes refugees and asylum seekers. The war in Ukraine played a significant role. The UN reported that more than 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees are present across Europe and estimated a total of 12.3 million people have been moved to date.

As people flee violence, poverty and oppression, technology can help ease their resettlement and the new challenges of displacement.

Language barriers are one of those challenges. The ability to communicate in the local language can connect people in need with legal aid, education and health care and help build trust and vital community bonds.

Partner companies since 2018

Rosetta Stone and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) recently announced the extension of a partnership that began in 2018. As part of the partnership, Rosetta Stone will provide free lifetime subscriptions to the language learning platform for IRAP global staff and refugee clients.

“Donated subscriptions will provide lifetime access to all 25 Rosetta Stone languages ​​to help refugees better navigate the resettlement process, improve communication between IRAP staff and refugees, and help refugees better ‘acclimate to their new home,’ said Kate Mattison, Vice President of Curriculum. to Rosetta Stone’s parent company, IXL Learning, told ZDNet. “IRAP has been a partner of ours since 2018, and we plan to continue this partnership to support its global mission.”

She added:

The acquisition of basic language skills is also important for the social integration of refugees – it helps them to acquire cultural knowledge about their host country, enables them to become active members of society and gives refugees a voice. to share their experiences and improve intercultural relations.

Mattison said fluency in the language also increases the likelihood that children will do well in school and opens up more job opportunities for adults.

These elements are important in helping people resettle “because it shifts the odds in favor of refugees by helping them to get an education and become self-sufficient, and it encourages full socio-economic integration,” Mattison said.

“Technology can help displaced people”

In addition to Ukraine, the UN said people in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also currently affected “by new waves of violence or protracted conflicts”.

IRAP used its global virtual law firm to provide direct legal assistance to 3,627 people from 47 countries last year, according to its report 2021 to supporters.

“As IRAP continues to grow, we look forward to bringing this new tool to any new staff and customers who receive subscriptions through the partnership,” said Spencer Tilger, a spokesperson for IRAP.

The organization has five global offices: New York and Washington, DC in the United States; Amman, Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon in the Middle East; and Berlin, Germany in Europe.

“Technology can help displaced people in many ways,” Tilger said. “When people are on the move, they often rely on their phones to stay in touch with loved ones and access the information they need while traveling. Language-learning tools like Rosetta Stone can help refugees navigate better in their life in transit and their new life after resettlement.”

Mattison echoed that sentiment:

One important way technology can help refugees is by providing near-instantaneous access to resources – anytime and from anywhere – that facilitate the resettlement process. Since many refugees have not yet settled into permanent housing, they can rely on technology – especially their smartphones – to access useful information and educational resources while on the move.

Tori Rubloff/ZDNet

Data shows that most modern refugees generally have access to basic technology, and it’s a necessity, not a luxury. According to a UN study, 71% of refugee households owned a mobile phone in 2016 and 39% had a smartphone.

Language proficiency is essential to start a new life in a new country.

Mattison said fluency in the language “enhances communication with advocacy groups to help refugees better navigate resettlement, facilitates social integration into new communities as quickly as possible, and improves chances of employment opportunities. education and employment in their new home”.

“Refugees who lack written and verbal language skills may find it difficult to coordinate with aid organizations,” Mattison continued. “We believe our partnership with IRAP will help reduce language barriers to facilitate smoother transitions throughout resettlement, help displaced people understand their legal rights, and empower refugees as they begin new lives. .”

In addition, IRAP is developing a virtual refugee legal information platform “so that our legal resources can reach more displaced people than ever before, wherever they are, and provide them with the information they need. need to access their legal rights,” says Tilger.

A $53 million grant over six years under the Audacious Project will support the expansion of IRAP services.

By 2027, IRAP said it aims to provide 2.5 million displaced people around the world “with the legal resources necessary to activate their legal rights”, which will allow them to “pursue pathways to safety with dignity and agency”.

IRAP currently has a legal resource chatbot and website that can help IDPs learn about their legal rights.

“Many refugees are not fluent in the language spoken in their resettlement country when they first arrive,” Tilger said. “Initiatives like Rosetta Stone’s partnership with IRAP can give them access to free educational tools that help them adapt and improve their social and economic opportunities.”

Other organizations are also using the power of technology to support refugees.

In April, Airbnb.org, Flexport.org and Spotify partnered with the Breakthrough Prize Foundation to launch the Technology for refugees initiative. The foundation’s initial $100 million will support civilians leaving Ukraine due to the ongoing war.

Support through the Tech For Refugees initiative includes:

  • Free short-term Airbnb rentals for up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine
  • Delivery of hospital beds and other medical equipment through Flexport’s digital freight network
  • Free access to Spotify Premium for Ukrainian refugees

Spotify also has in partnership with UNICEFproviding financial support and exploring ways music can help alleviate the human impacts of war.

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