Refugee Transitions

Refugee Transitions is a Bay Area-based nonprofit agency serving refugee, asylee, and immigrant newcomers from over 50 countries. All of our students are low-literacy and low-income; we support them with education, family engagement, and community leadership services. Supporting RT means helping some of the most socially and linguistically isolated members of our shared communities become self-sufficient and successful. Through our programs, we create strong cross-cultural relationships that are beneficial for both receiving and newcomer communities. Our work builds newcomer leadership, creating a multiplier effect. 

EDUCATION: RT's educational services include home-based tutoring, after-school programs, and adult classes. These services assist high-need newcomers in developing essential English, job, academic, and life skills needed to become self-sufficient in their new communities. Engaging trained volunteer tutors, these services strengthen our shared communities by fostering deep and meaningful cross-cultural relationships. 

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: RT's work uplifts entire families. We recognize that navigating life in a new country takes a concerted family effort. In addition to students' families participating in educational services, RT offers family programming such as workshops, events, and field trips, as well as provides case management/family support for the highest-need families. These services reduce the students' social and linguistic isolation. 

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: RT students show incredible resilience and determination, and we actively seek their contributions. We train and engage adult and youth refugee leaders who provide support to newly arrived community members. Our community leadership opportunities include internships, peer/alumni tutoring, childcare in adult classes, youth leadership, and community navigation. 

In 2015, RT served 1,899 unduplicated students and engaged 269 volunteers. Our services are unique and effective: both our youth and adult students beat California state averages for graduating high school and progressing in English. On May 3rd, 2016, please support our services in the South Bay and San Francisco, and help us move closer to our vision of seeing all newcomers thrive and become full, participating members of our shared communities!