Cecilia | Open Doors for Refugees

Helping refugees make a home in the Madison area

About
- Who We Are
  - Open Doors for Refugees
    Open Doors for Refugees is a volunteer-driven organization based in Madison, Wisconsin whose mission is to help refugees make a home in the Madison area.
- Who Are Refugees?
  - Who are Refugees?
    People who have fled their country to escape persecution, violence, or war are refugees.
    Refugees in Wisconsin
    Between 2019 and 2021, 1,254 refugees have settled in Wisconsin.
- Community Resources
  - Community Resources
  - Legal Resources
  - Jobs
  - Rent / Billing Assistance
  - Healthcare
  - Food
  - Transportation
  - Internet
  - Diapers & Menstrual Care
  - ESL
- Our Partners
  - Partnering Organizations
    A huge thanks goes to these neighboring organizations that make it possible for us to fulfill our mission.
- Contact Us
  - Contact Us
    General: [email protected]
    
    Donate Furniture and Household Items: [email protected]
    
    Volunteering Inquiries: [email protected]
    
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OpenDoorsForRefugees/
- DEI Statement
  - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Everything we do is designed to help refugees overcome challenges in housing, employment, culture, and language (to name a few), ultimately making Madison a place of greater equity and inclusion.
    Read our full statement.
What We Do
- Upcoming Meetings & Events
  - Upcoming Meetings
    We regularly host and partake in community events to support our newest neighbors.
    Upcoming Events
    We host a series of events throughout the year.
- Programs
  - Our Programs
    We have a variety of programs that directly benefit refugees.
  - Home Setup for Recent Arrivals
  - Transportation (rides)
  - Bus System Training
  - Free Bikes for Adults & Kids
  - ESL Tutoring & Mentorship
  - Childcare for Afghan Moms Learning ESL
  - Childcare Support for Health & Wellness Classes
  - Rental Assistance for Recent Arrivals
  - Winter Wear
  - Food Gift Cards for Recent Arrivals
  - Sewing Machines & Supplies
  - Events
Newsletters & Articles
- Past Newsletters
  - Past Newsletters
    Every month, Open Doors for Refugees releases a newsletter.
    Sign up to begin receiving email updates every other month.
- Open Doors in the News
  - Open Doors in the News
    A timeline of articles and other media that reference our work.
- Refugee Stories
- Community Updates
  - Community Updates
    News posts about ODFR and our interactions with the local community and updates about past ODFR events.
- World News
  - World News
    Posts about current world affairs.
- Special Topics
  - Special Topics
    Posts that go into detail about major world events and other important topics. We tend to keep these updated over time.

Saying Goodbye: A Message from the Executive Director

Posted on July 14, 2024July 14, 2024 Posted by Cecilia

I am writing to share some personal news with you all. After much reflection and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to step down as Executive Director of Open Doors for Refugees. This decision comes as I need to prioritize my health and well-being at this moment. Serving as your Executive Director has been… Read More

ODFR Co-Founder Efrat Livny Honored by YWCA Madison

Posted on May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Posted by Cecilia

Each year, YWCA Madison recognizes a select group of women leaders in the Madison area for their community service, professional achievement, integrity, leadership, and dedication to the lives of others. We at ODFR are thrilled to share that our co-founder Efrat Livny is among this year’s Women of Distinction honorees. This award celebrates her wholehearted… Read More