Photo by RET Venezuela

Happy June, and welcome back to Catch Up with RET – Our monthly newsletter where we shine a light on the stories and news that matters, and give a voice to individuals who are becoming more empowered each day through our programs. 

Want to make a difference? Among other things, $50 can…

• Help to assist women escape situations of domestic violence in Costa Rica and across the world.
• Help a single mother in D.R. Congo send her children to school – for the entire year.
• Support a household in Niger for the entire month.

For our U.S. supporters, we’re a 501(c)(3), and donations may be tax deductible.

Featured Photo

In 2018 in the heart of Venezuela, in the community of Montebello, RET launched a unique initiative to strengthen local economic development through the creation of an artisanal chocolate shop. The main objective of this project was to foster sustainable income generation for vulnerable communities, especially women and youth, through the production and marketing of chocolates made with high-quality Venezuelan cacao.

The artisanal chocolate shop stands out for its commitment to using traditional techniques and environmentally friendly processes, as well as for promoting the value of national production. In addition, this project provides technical training in production, business management, and marketing, thus strengthening local capacities and promoting economic autonomy, within the framework of the Livelihood Recovery program.

RET has been active in Venezuela since 2012. Want to learn more? Click here.

Impact Story

Language is a tool for empowerment, and in Türkiye, our language training program has been active across four provinces. Through an interactive approach with games, songs, activities, and practical lessons, this program is removing the language barrier and helping better connect host and refugee communities. In this video, we see how these courses are empowering local communities. Video in Turkish with English subtitles.

To stay up to date on all our work, subscribe to our YouTube channel (and click the notification bell) to know when we post new videos.

In Brief

We’re on the ground in 15 countries. Here’s what we’ve been up to in just a few of them over the last month…

• For many girls in Rugombo-Burundi, getting their period used to mean missing school—sometimes up to five days a month. That was the case for Menérive, 16: “Before, I stayed home. Now, I’m in class, confident and focused.” More about the story here.
• Children need safe spaces to learn, play, and heal. In Mauritania, RET revitalized two child-friendly spaces in Mbera refugee camp, supporting 100+ children daily with structured activities, education, and emotional care. Read more about the story.
• In a region deeply affected by conflict and displacement, young people from Kitshanga and Mweso in D.R. Congo, came together to play for something bigger than victory: peace. Read more on this activity.

Longer Reads

Here’s a roundup of a couple articles that take a deeper dive into our work.

• In Lebanon, we’re working to make a difference in how local communities are able to tend to their land, increasing their productivity, and improving connectivity. Mr. Issa Hojairy, a farmer from Arsal, extended his sincere gratitude to GATE Lebanon and RET Germany for their support in providing agricultural equipment. This initiative focused on the construction of a 15-kilometer agricultural road, which is now completely finished with some sections asphalted to benefit 4,000 local farmers in the Arsal region, and to ensure better accessibility and durability.  Read the full article about the launch here.
• We also launched a series of articles to explain humanitarian work and how your donation can make a difference. When war breaks out or disaster strikes, the world pays attention. Headlines fill our feeds. Emergency appeals flood our inboxes. But what happens months—or years—later, when the news cameras move on? For millions of refugees, the crisis doesn’t end. It just becomes invisible. Read the full article here.
• And did you that when you donate to a nonprofit, you’re not just giving money—you’re joining a global effort to create change? Organizations like ours exist to bridge the gap between goodwill and real-world impact. But how exactly does that process work? Read more.

That’s it for this edition of Catch Up with RET, but before we close…

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