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Article by RET External Relations

In a world where refugee needs often feel overwhelming—and headlines shift by the week—you might wonder: How can I make a real difference? The answer isn’t just giving. It’s giving well. The most impactful donors combine compassion with thoughtful strategy. Here’s how you can ensure your support does more than help—it empowers.

Support the Journey, Not Just the Emergency

A blanket on a cold night can save a life. But what happens the next night—and the one after that? The most effective support goes beyond emergencies and helps refugees build futures.

At RET, we strive to:

✓ Move from short-term aid to long-term solutions, creating resilient communities and eliminating dependency
✓ Provide education and job training that restore independence and promote economic empowerment
✓ Work hand-in-hand with local communities to create lasting change and spur positive transformations

Why it matters: A hot meal matters today. But the skills to earn a living, educate a child, or start a business? That’s tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. That’s how dignity is restored.

Bridging the Gaps… That Headlines Miss

Not all crises make the news. Indeed, RET responds to many that are often little known outside of the humanitarian world. Likewise, not all needs are visible. Some of the most life-changing support goes to places and services that are underfunded—simply because they’re not “trending.”

Your donation can stretch further when directed toward:

• Overlooked regions: Where global attention has faded, but human suffering hasn’t; these are places like central Africa and Latin America, among others.
• Mental health care: Refugees often carry the trauma of war, loss, and displacement with them—yet services for PTSD and grief are critically underfunded. Without support, these individuals will be limited in how well they can access and capitalize on help provided.
• Legal aid: For families navigating complex asylum processes, a trained lawyer can mean the difference between safety and deportation, as well as provide invaluable mental support through a long and difficult process.

These aren’t luxuries—they’re lifelines.

The Power of Recurring Support

You might not think of $30 a month as a game-changer. But steady, recurring support is one of the most powerful ways to help us and the communities we serve.

Why it matters:

✓ It helps us plan ahead with confidence.
✓ It covers ongoing, essential needs—like rent for shelters, teacher salaries, or loans to local cooperatives.
✓ It often reduces processing fees, putting more money directly into programs.

Here’s an example of the real impact of $30 a month:

• Week 1: A family receives food parcels,
• Week 2: A child gets a backpack and schoolbooks,
• Week 3: A mother attends a medical checkup,
• Week 4: A young adult starts language classes that open doors,

Month after month, your steady support can increase the possibilities for a refugee, displaced person, or vulnerable community. Think of giving as an investment in someone’s future.

Choose Transparency Over Promises

In a world full of good intentions, smart giving is about trust and accountability. At RET, transparency is one of our core values. In fact, you can take a look at our previous annual reports and audited financials to see exactly how we are serving affected communities.

Before you donate, you can even check the following across our websites:

✔ Clear reporting: We’re proud to say that well over the standard 80% of funds go directly to programs
✔ Independent reviews: Check us out on Guidestar to see more about how we operate
✔ Measurable results: We don’t just make vague statements, but seek to promote real stories, real numbers, and give a voice to the individuals we’re supporting. Take a look at our News section to see more.

Your generosity is more than a number on a receipt—it’s a turning point in someone’s life. By choosing to give thoughtfully, you become more than a donor. You become a partner in rebuilding futures.

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