ORAM Organization for Refuge Asylum & Migration

I worked for ORAM as an intern from October 2018-January 2019 and had a truly informative experience. As one of the only nonprofits serving LGBTQ refugees and migrants specifically, ORAM is able to provide resources, legal help, and hope for individuals who often fall through the cracks of the international asylum and migration system. While there, I helped manage the virtual help hotline that offers refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants a direct contact for questions regarding their situations. Reading their stories, it was clear how needed and important the support ORAM offers LGBTQ migrants is. Equally important, the full-time ORAM staff members were incredibly passionate and knowledgable about the nexus between LGBTQ issues and international migration law. I couldn't recommend ORAM as an organization more highly and have been able to apply so much of what I learned during my internship to the work I continue to do now in the migration and immigration fields.

I was introduced to ORAM during the pandemic of 2020/21 by referral. I was to be hired by the group to provide a service. Upon discussion and research, I chose to provide my service on a volunteer basis. After meeting with all the staff, and board members, I knew right away that this was a team I wanted to be a part of. It was even more inspiring to virtually meet some of the people they provide assistance for. This is one great organization that has proven to me time and time again that they truly care about refugee around the world. I see big things for this team and I hope to be involved for a long time. Great working with all of you guys!

This organization has a great mission and some of its work helps the actual refugees they claim they are helping however, the director, Neil Grungras is a self-important man who mismanages the organization. His treatment of staff and volunteers is not only disrespectful but he takes them for granted, gets rid of them and orders them around like they are reusable. The little good intentions he has are wasted on dumping his responsibilities on volunteers like me and jetting around the world to meet with people he can name drop. He treats those who work tirelessly for him badly and he is disorganized and thoughtless when it comes to implementation of the work. He does not seem to think the careers and opinions of young adults that are beginning their career in human rights work matter, and he acts accordingly. All of this behavior is said to be more efficiently serving the larger mission, but sadly he does not realize that the way you treat staff is important and people talk. I strongly discourage interning/volunteering or working for this organization.

The staff is formed by the most passionate people I've met and I believe that this is the main reason for the NGO's great accomplishments. The friendly, yet professional working environment, makes the volunteers and interns contribute with great pleasure.

I would like to show my support for the organization ORAM, which provides support (legal and otherwise) to refugees and educates groups and individuals about discrimination in countries where it is needed.

I have personally met individuals helped by ORAM, and the work of this organization is essential to the respect of human rights.

ORAM is an incredible organization dedicated to saving the lives of LGBTI refugees worldwide, largely due to Executive Director Grungras's vision, dedication and leadership. I highly recommend others to donate to and support ORAM!

This is a great organization that works to help LGBTI refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries. I had a chance to work on publications and treatises, and also to help work on some of the legal cases being handled in the office. Great opportunity!

Amazing mission of assisting glbt people but the executive director grungas sabotages the organisation. I was an intern here and was truly truly inspired by some of the staff and volunteers, but the mismangements really hurt the organisation. Projects and publications are not planned, all deadlines are missed, and too much time is spent compensating for the bad decisions and awful judgement of the executive director. During my summer, he spent most of it jetsetting for no seeming reason or accountability. Completely out of touch but for the brief moments he is in San francisco and not in Israel or Europe, he is harrassing the staff and volunteers and interns to makeup for all the work he fails to do. I was so so frustrated with him even as an intern, so I can so understand why the staff turnover is as high as it is. Mr. Grungas is so paranoid about competition organisations that he rather not help GLBT people in need of help so that no one can help them.

Before interning at ORAM, I already found myself lucky to live in a country where Human Rights are not a life and death issue. ORAM opened my eyes on the persecution that millions of people experience everyday around the world based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. I worked with a professional staff advocating for this cause for many years, using their expertise to conduct research and trainings to raise the awareness of governments, international institutions and the public. I witnessed the willingness of the organization and its partners to help refugees living in precarious conditions. I also met committed and competent interns. ORAM is a key organization in its field and I am proud to have been part of it.

The mission and purpose of this organization is much needed around the world. Unfortunately, ORAM is not equipped to achieve its mission and purpose. With such tremendous staff turnover, institutional knowledge is lacking and inefficiency prevails. Character assassinations and general paranoia by management about other organizations, incompetent staff, and incompetent contractors occur frequently. Funds and projects are mismanaged and procrastination is the norm at ORAM. I would not fund this organization until its board takes seriously the issues and liability its Executive Director creates for them and their duties to the organization.