The Somali Community of Western New York (SCWNY) was founded in 2002 to support Somali refugees in Western New York. As the refugee population grew and services expanded to include other refugee groups, SCWNY evolved into Refugees Helping Refugees (RHR) to better represent its broad mission.
RHR is dedicated to fostering growth, self-determination, and self-reliance within Rochester’s refugee community. Our goal is to empower refugees to become agents of their own advancement. We aim to provide a comprehensive range of services at our community center, welcoming individuals from all cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. RHR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our initial programs were focused on Somali elders who faced isolation and depression. Somali women recognized this issue and sought to create a supportive environment. The RHR center soon began hosting activities such as lunches, exercise classes, and social events for Somali seniors, integrating them with American seniors.
As the needs of our community evolved, so did our programs. Students requested English classes, citizenship training, and case management assistance. By January 2012, we established a four-day-a-week English as a Second Language (ESOL) program, certified by Monroe County, with volunteer instructors and participants from Somalia, Burma, Congo, Nepal, and Ethiopia.
Concerns about Somali youth led to the creation of the Intergenerational Somali Summer Program (ISSP), an 8-week program that included Somali dance and singing performances, culminating in a final ceremony attended by over 200 people in 2014.
In November 2012, we launched the Work Experience Program (WEP) through RochesterWorks!, offering classes in cooking, healthcare, and computer skills. This initiative provides practical work experience in a culturally sensitive environment.
Refugees Helping Refugees is a community-based, refugee-led organization committed to fostering the growth, self-determination, and self-reliance of refugees in Rochester. We provide education, training, and support to help refugees build on their strengths and thrive. Our programs include English language and citizenship training, health education, work experience training, legal clinics, comprehensive case management, academic support for youth, and activities for seniors. By participating in our programs, community members develop essential skills, gain confidence, and achieve independence.
To support our mission, you can:
Contact Us For more information or to get involved, please visit our website or reach out to us directly.
Watch our story and see our impact in action:
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NAME |
ROLE |
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Sadiya Omar |
Member of Board of Directors and Founder (non-voting) |
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Caridad Sosa-Blackwell |
Member of Board of Directors |
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Diamonique Santiago |
Member of Board of Directors |
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Grant Marthinsen |
Board of Director Chairperson |
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Audrey Korokeyi |
Member of Board of Directors |
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Shewit Gebremariam |
Member of Board of Directors* |
Grants and Partners:
Institutional and Community Partners:
Grantors:
Home page:Refugees
Refugees Helping Refugees (RHR) is a non-profit organization in Rochester, NY that serves refugees of Western New York. RHR seeks to foster the growth, self-determination, and self-reliance of Rochester’s refugee community by making them agents of their own advancement.
We offer a variety of programs that ensure our clients are able to achieve sustainability as new Americans.
Prepares you for job readiness, resume preparation and writing, understanding interview skills and how job applications are conducted, as well as the healthcare sector for certifications and employment.
Three levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages are taught by certified ESOL teachers.
A dynamic process that promotes advocacy, communication and referrals between clients, organizations, and governmental agencies.
Refugees Helping Refugees is a largely volunteer-run organization. Because RHR is a nonprofit and receives limited funding from grants for operational and programming costs, the organization is able to offer few paid positions. This makes the need for proactive, empowered, and passionate volunteers essential to our survival. Our volunteers are reliable and innovative and seek to make a positive difference in the refugee community.
RHR seeks to foster the growth, self-determination, and self-reliance of Rochester’s refugee community by making them agents of their advancement. It seeks to become a comprehensive community center providing a full range of services to its community while also welcoming people from all cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Your donation empowers refugees to help fellow refugees rebuild their lives. Every contribution supports critical resources and programs, ensuring that those in need can access shelter, food, and opportunities for a fresh start. Together, we can make a tangible difference and foster a compassionate community of support.
Programs
Three classes taught by well-known teachers. We offer both smaller class settings for more one-on-one learning and larger classrooms. The goal is literacy for all in terms of learning English.
We have multiple personnel who can assist in various capacities. They speak English, Dari, Urdu, Uzbek, Turkish, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, and Greek.
RHR’s attorney specializes in immigration law and handles all related cases.
Prepares you for job readiness, assists in resume preparation and writing, understanding interview skills and how job applications are conducted, as well as the healthcare sector for certifications and employment.
Our social worker participates in seminars and continued training on refugee issues, racism, trauma, and loss. They provide mental health staff meetings, assessments, evaluations, and counseling.
Where functional English self-care and basic comprehension of health, mental health, and health care systems.
Volunteer;
Three classes taught by well-known teachers. We offer both smaller class settings for more one-on-one learning and larger classrooms. The goal is literacy for all in terms of learning English.
We have multiple personnel who can assist in various capacities. They speak English, Dari, Urdu, Uzbek, Turkish, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, and Greek.
RHR’s attorney specializes in immigration law and handles all related cases.
Prepares you for job readiness, assists in resume preparation and writing, understanding interview skills and how job applications are conducted, as well as the healthcare sector for certifications and employment.
Our social worker participates in seminars and continued training on refugee issues, racism, trauma, and loss. They provide mental health staff meetings, assessments, evaluations, and counseling.
Where functional English self-care and basic comprehension of health, mental health, and health care systems.
Refugees Helping Refugees (RHR) is a largely volunteer-run organization, relying on passionate and dedicated individuals to support our mission. As a nonprofit with limited funding, our volunteers play a vital role in helping us serve the refugee and Rochester community. If you’re proactive, innovative, and eager to make a positive difference, we invite you to join our volunteer team!
Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in Volunteering? To become a volunteer, email our volunteer coordinator at volunteers@rhrroc.org.
Make a difference today!
Donate;
Get together with your neighbors, friends, or colleagues and collect items to support refugees. Contact us at rhr@rhrroc.org to find out what items are currently needed in large quantities.
Drop-off times are Monday–Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM at 228 S Plymouth Ave,
Suite 200, Rochester, NY, 14608
Please note: We cannot accept large furniture
donations, and we are currently unable to pick up donations.
Below are some of the donations we can always use. Please contact us to make an in-kind donation.
Sadiya fled the civil war in Somalia in the early 1990s and became a respected educator and advocate for women and girls in refugee camps in Kenya. Advocating for girls’ education was contested and dangerous, and Ms. Omar’s life was in danger in the camp. Because of that, her application for asylum was fast-tracked and she arrived in the United States in 2001, after residing in refugee camps for ten years. She continued her tireless advocacy after resettling in Rochester, working with other Somali refugees to form the Somali Community of Western New York (SCWNY), which became Refugees Helping Refugees in 2015.
Mai Abdullah is Refugees Helping Refugees Executive Director. Mai is a non-profit professional and community advocate; she has been involved with the New Americans throughout her entire career. Mai is a powerful force in the community and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to use their power to advocate for change. Mai holds a Master’s in Environmental Health and Safety Management from Rochester Institute of Technology and is a graduate of Leadership Rochester (2023) and the WYCA Equity through Development program.
Andriana Ongoiba is our Grants Manager. She previously served in various capacities at Refugees Helping Refugees, most recently as our Executive Director. She spent several years in NYC working in human rights providing direct service to clients, and continues to provide these trainings on best practices for trauma, language access, and related issues for various government exchange programs, and public and private institutions on behalf of RHR. She is an expert in human trafficking and provides consults and expert witness testimony for cases as well.
Haji Yuldash is a youth coordinator at Refugees Helping Refugees and a community advocate in Rochester, New York. He has tremendous years of experience working with youth and refugees in Rochester. Before he moved to the states, he worked as an ESL teacher, program development officer, and cultural advisor in Afghanistan. Haji is a passionate advocate for his people, and he uses his positive attitude and courage to help others by inspiring a real difference in the lives of refugees and youth. He is also a talented writer and translator, and he has published a collection of fables in his native language as well as speaks multiple languages.
Stergios Skatharoudis was born and raised in Greece and has been in the States since 1986. When he was younger he travelled around the world via Merchant Marines which taught him a deep experiential appreciation of cultures and languages. He also loves searching for training to reduce stress, depression, trauma-related issues, and so much more. I enjoy spending in nature (hiking, kayaking, walking), listening to various genres of music, practicing mindfulness, reading, cooking, listening to music, and learning about different cultures and spirituality. He works at Refugees Helping Refugees as a social worker. He is very glad to be here!
My name is Ayan Abdi. I am from Somalia but born in Kenya. My parents are Somalis. My family and I have been residing in Rochester, NY for over a decade. I have been at Refugees Helping Refugees for the past twelve years. I am a part of RHR’s case management team and am currently attending the University of New York Brockport to obtain a degree in Social Work. As a case manager my primary goal is to ensure that our client’s needs are met efficiently and effectively despite any trials and tribulations that arise. She also knows how to speak Swahili, Somali, along with English.
Hello, my name is Sumayah Alani; I graduated from SUNY Brockport with a psychology degree. I am fluent in Arabic and English, and I know some Spanish. I love helping others, and also I enjoy cooking and painting. Previously, I worked as an Arabic interpreter. At Refugees Helping Refugees, I am a case manager. At RHR I assist refugees, asylees, immigrants, and others in applying for jobs, preparing them for interviews, helping and conducting case management, and working throughout the hiring process. We help individuals who also are having trouble with insurance, housing, billing, and legal aid.
Hello, my name is Efrain J. DeJesus. I am the Office Assistant at Refugees Helping Refugees. I have an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Monroe Community College, and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in History from SUNY Brockport. I joined RHR in the fall of 2017 as a volunteer because I wanted to give back to my community. Through this drive of mine, I have become a sort of jack of all trades for everyone at RHR. If anyone ever needs anything, I am always willing to lend a hand.
Joe is a community volunteer and advocate within his community. He also has experience and credentials in corporate finance management and human resources. Joe is one of our English as a Second Language (or ESOL) teachers here at Refugees Helping Refugees. Joe is also a wonderful father to his two children. He is a simple man who can fluently speak English and French.
Omid is Refugees Helping Refugees Program Manager and one of our ESOL Teachers. He is originally from Herat, Afghanistan where he graduated from an English literature faculty. Omid served for the US military back in Afghanistan as an Administrative Assistant and Interpreter. In 2021 Omid immigrated to the USA by (SIV) After two years of working with Lifetime, Omid Joined Refugees Helping Refugees family as Program Manager and ESOL Teacher for all refugees.