BONDEKO REFUGEE LIVELIHOODS CENTER
501(c)(3) Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Don't see your question here? Don't be shy! Visit our contact page and ask away. We'll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
HOW CAN I HELP?
There are lots of ways you can help! You can volunteer, make a donation, or partner with us. Visit our Get Involved page for more information.
CAN I RECEIVE A TAX RECEIPT FOR MY DONATION?
Yes, you will be sent a tax receipt by Omprakash after making your donation. If you do not receive a tax receipt, please contact Omprakash at info@omprakash.org.
WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?
Your money goes directly to the Bondeko Centre (except for a small fee if you choose to pay through paypal). We use donations to fund and expand programs, pay rent, make repairs to the centre, and provide honoraria to Bondeko trainers. You can also specify where you would like your donation to go by adding a comment to your donation. We report all donations on our Omprakash page to provide financial transparency.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS LED BY REFUGEES?
Organisations founded and led by refugees are important because they utilise refugees’ skills, reach refugees who may not be affiliated with international organisations, and take steps to address the day-to-day struggles that refugees encounter. In so doing, they aim to foster refugee self-reliance and – with their focus on language and skills training – actively contribute to local integration and development efforts. For more information, read the following article mentioning Bondeko Centre as a prime example of a successful refugee-run organization, written by one of our Board members, Evan Easton-Calabria: 'Refugee-run organizations as partners in development'.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REFUGEE, ASYLUM SEEKER, MIGRANT, AND AN IDP?
This text has been adapted from Amnesty International and UNHCR materials.
Refugees are persons who cannot return to their own country because they would be at real risk of persecution or other serious human rights violations. Their situation is so perilous and intolerable at home that they have crossed national borders to seek safety. Precisely because it is too dangerous for them to return home, they need sanctuary and protection somewhere else.
Migrants are persons who move mainly to improve their lives by finding work, or in some cases for education, business or other reasons. Unlike refugees who cannot safely return home, migrants face no such impediment to return, even if there is a lack of economic development in their country of origin.
An asylum-seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection. An asylum-seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which he or she has submitted it. Not every asylum-seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee.
Asylum is granted by a State to individuals who cannot be returned because they would be at risk of persecution or other serious human rights violations. Asylum encompasses a variety of elements, including non-refoulement, permission to remain on the territory of the asylum country, respect for human rights and eventually a long-term solution.
A forcibly displaced person has had to move away from their home or places of habitual residence and occupational activities. The displacement may be caused by a number of factors, the most common being armed conflict. Natural disasters, famine, development and economic changes may also be a cause of displacement.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are persons or groups of people who have been forced to leave their homes. They have left as a result of, or in order to avoid, the effects of armed conflicts, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and they have not crossed an international border.
International protection is the respect, protection and promotion of the rights of refugees, including respect for the principle of non-refoulement; admission to safety; access to fair procedures for the determination of refugee status; the implementation of durable solutions.