Mission: Portland Refugee Support Group's (PRSG) mission is to empower refugees through social support and education. We help our clients navigate a path to a successful life in the US. PRSG is dedicated to working with refugees by empowering them to become independent and effective members of society through education, psycho-social support, and life skills training. We at PRSG understand the difficulties refugees face trying to acclimate to a new life. We believe that with the right support, refugees will adjust faster and be able to survive on their own in their new homes.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Our amazing team of volunteers helps over 400 refugees of different ethnicities throughout the Portland area & Salem, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.
Programs: The Portland Refugee Support Group is an organization that provides refugees currently living in the Portland, OR metropolitan region the social capital they need for a successful transition to life in the US. PRSG believes the power of community, if organized effectively, can help refugees pursue greater opportunities, and achieve greater outcomes. This is accomplished through volunteer run programs: Community Connections, Community Wellness, Community Education and Community Aid.
Community Connections: PRSG trains and pairs one community member with one client family. These one-on-one relationships are used to provide refugee clients a safe place for any questions, assistance acclimating to everyday life, and a trust-driven friendship in the city.
Community Wellness: PRSG hosts monthly group counseling sessions for both adults and children, as well as an annual youth empowerment camp. The goal of this program is to address the social wellbeing of clients in their new environment, as well as help them build the friendships and social capital they will need through their integration journey.
Community Education: PRSG pairs a community member who works with a client on a weekly basis on either functional English or class work. These relationships are often the first place clients begin to learn English, and one of the first steps in successful integration.
Community Aid: As clients increase their social capital and status, they often need assistance in their journey. PRSG provides emergency financial funds to families to assure they stay on a positive path. Additionally, PRSG provides money making opportunities for clients and monthly goods donations bags to any families who need supplies.
PRSG provides incredible community based support and services. They are a true force for good in Portland and the surrounding area- and their model- of bringing people together in order to do more good- is inspiring.
The Portland Refugee Support Group is one of the best run organizations I have ever seen. The staff is deeply committed and passionate to helping people and families in need. Their support is truly changing and shaping the lives of so many families in the community. It has been wonderful to see this organization grow and positively impact so many people's lives. They are a true depiction of what loving people with open arms means.
I have worked with PRSG for many years as a volunteer. They do amazing work to help both newly arrived refugees, and those who have been here for a while but have not managed to become self-sufficient yet. They have trauma informed counseling available, summer camps for kids and so much more. They are a truly great organization!
I love working with PRSG. I’ve seen this organization grow so much in the last five years. It has blossomed from a small group of friends to a big family of passionate and dedicated volunteers and staff members. Seeing the difference we are making in the lives of our refugee community motivates me to continue working with this incredible organization.
I love the work that PRSG is doing for the local refugee community. They are constantly doing events like potlucks to bring everyone together and bring some normalcy to what can be hectic lives. I have also had the privilege of helping out at several food drives where PRSG sourced hundreds of ponds of meat donated from local stores. PRSG is making a massive impact in the community around them, not only to help them in the present, but to also help them on their way to self sufficiency so that they don’t need to rely on the system their whole lives.
I have seen how hard the volunteers and board work first hand. I've been with them since the start when they were only a handful of organizers and volunteers. They grew a lot and were able to take on a lot more responsibilities in helping the refugees assimilate and get settled down into a new country. They are awesome and I 100% reccomend them!
PRSG truly cares about the families it is helping. These individuals work consistently to meet the needs of their clients and have dedicated resources to help with financial aid, mental health, education and social support. Their leadership is deeply involved in every aspect of the organization and works to improve upon the efforts being made to help refugee families assimilate to Oregon.
