Basic Needs
The Basic Needs program is a locally led solution for refugee and asylum seeker communities living in Indonesia. In 2017, we started this flagship program with a simple premise: if we can meet the basic needs of our refugee and asylum seeker community members, people will have more capacity to support and make better choices for themselves, their families and their futures.
Through distribution of monthly food and hygiene packages, supported access to preventative eye and dental health care, and emergency medical and housing assistance, we are meeting the immediate basic needs of refugee and asylum seeker communities and enabling safer and healthier lives for those awaiting protection.
Every month from July 2021 – June 2022, our Basic Needs team distributed 327 food packages and 67 hygiene packages to 200-250 refugee families.
A total of USD$14,194 in rental assistance was accessed by 15 refugee families in the last financial year.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF BASIC NEEDS?
Healthy Communities – Create a healthier refugee community by providing basic nutrition and hygiene items. Once basic needs are met, refugee community members have more space in their lives to make choices for themselves, participate in community activities such as education for children, upskilling programs for adults, and accessing mental and physical health support.
Primary Prevention – Early intervention to improve nutrition, sanitation and hygiene outcomes and prevent minor health concerns from escalating.
Community Solutions - Develop the capacity of refugee communities to participate and support each other, such as through our Basic Needs volunteer program.
Awareness Raising - Advocate for increased awareness and access to basic living supports for refugee populations in Indonesia.
Ongoing Support – We commit to supporting a family or individual as long as required until they are in a position to sustainability meet their own needs.
HOW DOES YOUR DONATION HELP?
$50 – funds a month of food/hygiene items for three refugee households
$100 – funds two weeks of housing support for a refugee family
$250 – funds one refugee to access dental treatment
“As a refugee I could not afford to fix my teeth. My teeth have been painful since I came to Indonesia 10 years ago. Now, RAIC has them fixed with their program. I have not eaten anything in 10 years with this left side. And now that my teeth have been fixed, my teeth have no more problems.” (Dental Care Program Participant)
Become a supporter of the Basic Needs program today.