
Our story
It began with an earnest question of our own.
“What can we do?”
It is a question we know many are asking as the reality of war & conflict takes its toll on our collective humanity.
Conventionally, refugee care and advocacy has been championed by the few experts. Yet, there are everyday people who have a sincere desire to help. The obstacles that stand in the way can seem insurmountable, especially when we lack the resources and confidence about what we have to offer. Together, we started Mending Together to answer this question. As it turns out, there is a whole lot that everyday people can do to contribute to the social and emotional healing of refugees!
In 2022, Chris and Marcus were invited to test run a pilot program in Estonia with some everyday people who had wholeheartedly committed to helping resettle Ukrainian refugees. They had never done this kind of work before and were experiencing secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. We spent almost a week with them, facilitating daily debriefs and helping them work through some of the practical questions in refugee work.
Throughout our time with then, we saw the reciprocal healing that comes with helping refugees integrate and adapt to their new realities. It’s not just up to the experts anymore! We’ve seen the positive impact on displaced persons and refugees when their support systems are equipped & mobilized to meet their needs.
We provide the training and resources for everyday people who want to lend a helping hand and support refugees in their communities. If that’s you, then you’ve come to the right place.
Healing starts with us.
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Healing is never one-way. When we mend together with refugees, we discover the interconnectedness of our collective healing. Ordinary hands can carry extraordinary hope.
Mending Together exists to bridge the relational gap between ordinary, everyday people and refugees. Come along on this journey of mending together!
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