World Refugee Day Focuses on Youth Empowerment
On World Refugee Day, a global campaign highlighted the voices of displaced youth advocating for education and rights. Stories of young leaders inspired action worldwide.
Technology Bridging the Gap for Displaced Children
In January 2025, a new initiative by UNICEF introduced solar-powered digital learning hubs in South Sudanese refugee camps. These hubs provide displaced children with access to educational content, even in the absence of traditional classrooms. The initiative is expected to reach over 50,000 children this year. This exemplifies the transformative power of technology in education.
Holiday Celebrations in Refugee Camps
Refugee camps in Lebanon organized cultural festivities, bringing joy to children and families. The celebrations emphasized the resilience of displaced communities in maintaining traditions.
Please use this link to shop at smile.amazon.com and support our tax-exempt non-Profit (Tax Id: 87-2194179) at no extra cost , or to donate items from Amazon Smile Charity Lists. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/87-2194179
December 2021: HEARD’s Holiday Donation drive. Proceeds were donated to TX CPS (Child Protective Services) in Round Rock.
https://theheardfoundation.wordpress.com/testimonials/
November 2021: We are IRS Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
August 27, 2021: We applied for 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Tax Exempt status.
August 11, 2021: We started HEARD – Healthy Resources for Displaced Children. This is a non-profit based out of Austin, TX but we offer our services across USA.
Need:
According to the most recent data from the UNHCR, there are currently 70.8 million forcibly displaced people around the world. Of those, 25.9 million are refugees — and more than half of these are under the age of 18, 3.5 million are asylum-seekers, and 41.3 million are internally displaced people (IDPs).
Currently, in the United States there are over 4.7 million foreign born individuals enrolled in pre-kindergarten to postsecondary education, representing 6% of the total student population. Another 20 million students are the children of foreign born parents.
25% of children live in refugee or immigrant families, which means they are foreign born or have at least one foreign-born parent.
These displaced children already face significant trauma and challenges because of their forced displacement. But additionally, they lack resources to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle during their formative years primarily due to a lack of adequate physical activities and exercise.
As a result, these displaced children often suffer from a variety of physical and mental ailments and diseases, some of which are life threatening.
All children deserve to be adequately taken care of mentally and physically and have the right to clean clothing, safe shelter, food, and an education. Failure to do so can result in further trauma and potentially long-term psychological damage.
Leaving these communities behind could have disastrous results for decades to come. As a nation of immigrants, America has benefited from the vitality and enthusiasm brought to its shores by those seeking a better life.
There are several organization and non-profits supporting this target population that offer academic support, health services, economic support, dietary support etc. but very few are focused on solving one of the root causes for their physical and mental ailments.
There is a need for more non-profits that will enable displaced kids lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle by providing them resources that will allow them to engage in a variety of indoor and outdoor physical activities, exercises, and sports across the board, and through the course of their childhood, early adulthood and then even adulthood especially in the states that are home to large refugee/immigrant populations.

Nice!!!
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Here is a chance to donate (this holiday season) things that your kids may have outgrown.
Any toys, books, bikes, shoes, winter clothes, etc. that are in decent condition are welcome.
https://theheardfoundation.org/events-campaigns/
Also note, this is a nice opportunity for middle and high school kids in the neighborhood looking for volunteer opportunities.
We are a group of high school students that run the 501(c)3 Nonprofit, and we can attest volunteer hrs.
Please contact us at ‘theheardfoundation@gmail.com’ or 267 746 5215, and we will arrange a pickup. You can also drop off your items at 612 Raging River Rd, Cedar Park.
https://theheardfoundation.org
Thank you!
Nikhil Parida
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