Short Story
Spain
Back in 2018 Bridie Jackson planted the seed which would grow to be Language Linkers just a couple of years later. Now nearly 3 years after it’s official launch Language Linkers is a blossoming NGO which has assisted hundreds of refugees worldwide to access online language teachers and language learning opportunities.
Why language?
Without English or a host country language, many refugees don’t find the help available to them or even know that they have rights, including
Additionally, later, language can be key to
More than anything though, Language Linkers has seen how language is the way to
The refugee journey is long, soul destroying and cruel. Language Linkers brings heart and hope to refugees wherever they are. We journey with our students until they feel settled and safe in their new homes and no longer need us.
Language Linkers has run almost entirely on thousands of volunteered hours. Donations received have been used to support students by paying for exam fees, school materials, transport costs, laptops, tablets, educational courses and more.
We have students on waiting lists we can’t attend and collaborations in the pipeline which we are unable to stretch to both due to a lack of resources. In order to expand we need a full time management team. Our two key workers are unable to volunteer more hours (currently they volunteer approximately 35 hours a week between them). We want to commit to the new projects available but we can not do that without a committed and supported team.
Founder Bridie Jackson and her 6 year old daughter Daisy are going to walk 160 miles of the Camino Santiago in order to raise funds for Language Linkers.
“Refugees and their young children face worse journeys than this. They don’t know where the end of their journey will be, they don`t know when it will end and who to trust along the way. They may not have funds or language to support them. They will have left everything they know behind them in search of safety. This walk is just a tiny glimpse into their world.”
“We hope to raise enough funds to support hundreds more refugees to access a safe home and independence, with dignity and with unconditional support, including language support. We hope to open hearts and spread better understanding of who our refugee friends are, their journeys and the troubles they face.”
The aim is to keep walking until they get there, take each day at a time. Despite the relative comfort of choosing this journey as opposed to being forced into a refugee journey, this is an act of desperation, a call for help.
“I feel 2023 is a make or break year for Language Linkers. We’ve achieved so much thanks to our volunteers. Now we need friends and family to dig deep, donate and share to help keep this project going.”
Donations of all sizes help Language Linkers:
£40 will match a refugee student to a qualified language teacher for 1:1 lessons
£110 helps us set up a women`s conversation group
£110 allows us to set up an age specific mini group for 4 children
£40 will match a refugee student to a conversation partner
£5 supports a storytellers group to read to up to 10 children, the sessions are 5 nights a week
Could you join in by creating your own fundraiser event to help us involve more people and generate more donations? Be a part of creating positive change in our world; put on a pizza party, arrange a cinema night, organise an auction….choose an idea that feels good and maybe, like for Bridie and Daisy is a challenge that helps you grow too 🙂
We want to raise enough money to secure our project for at least another year which will allow us to double our student intake to at least 300 students.
Donors will be invited to follow Bridie and Daisy along the Camino de Santiago. You can also receive updates and newsletters from Language Linkers by emailing [email protected], to keep informed about how your donation is creating change in refugee lives.
Mary Cotter
Walking with Language Linkers
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$20,000.00
Funding Goal -
$0.00
Funds Raised -
0
Days to go -
Campaign Never Ends
Campaign End Method
Campaign Story
Spain
Back in 2018 Bridie Jackson planted the seed which would grow to be Language Linkers just a couple of years later. Now nearly 3 years after it’s official launch Language Linkers is a blossoming NGO which has assisted hundreds of refugees worldwide to access online language teachers and language learning opportunities.
Why language?
Without English or a host country language, many refugees don’t find the help available to them or even know that they have rights, including
Additionally, later, language can be key to
More than anything though, Language Linkers has seen how language is the way to
The refugee journey is long, soul destroying and cruel. Language Linkers brings heart and hope to refugees wherever they are. We journey with our students until they feel settled and safe in their new homes and no longer need us.
Language Linkers has run almost entirely on thousands of volunteered hours. Donations received have been used to support students by paying for exam fees, school materials, transport costs, laptops, tablets, educational courses and more.
We have students on waiting lists we can’t attend and collaborations in the pipeline which we are unable to stretch to both due to a lack of resources. In order to expand we need a full time management team. Our two key workers are unable to volunteer more hours (currently they volunteer approximately 35 hours a week between them). We want to commit to the new projects available but we can not do that without a committed and supported team.
Founder Bridie Jackson and her 6 year old daughter Daisy are going to walk 160 miles of the Camino Santiago in order to raise funds for Language Linkers.
“Refugees and their young children face worse journeys than this. They don’t know where the end of their journey will be, they don`t know when it will end and who to trust along the way. They may not have funds or language to support them. They will have left everything they know behind them in search of safety. This walk is just a tiny glimpse into their world.”
“We hope to raise enough funds to support hundreds more refugees to access a safe home and independence, with dignity and with unconditional support, including language support. We hope to open hearts and spread better understanding of who our refugee friends are, their journeys and the troubles they face.”
The aim is to keep walking until they get there, take each day at a time. Despite the relative comfort of choosing this journey as opposed to being forced into a refugee journey, this is an act of desperation, a call for help.
“I feel 2023 is a make or break year for Language Linkers. We’ve achieved so much thanks to our volunteers. Now we need friends and family to dig deep, donate and share to help keep this project going.”
Donations of all sizes help Language Linkers:
£40 will match a refugee student to a qualified language teacher for 1:1 lessons
£110 helps us set up a women`s conversation group
£110 allows us to set up an age specific mini group for 4 children
£40 will match a refugee student to a conversation partner
£5 supports a storytellers group to read to up to 10 children, the sessions are 5 nights a week
Could you join in by creating your own fundraiser event to help us involve more people and generate more donations? Be a part of creating positive change in our world; put on a pizza party, arrange a cinema night, organise an auction….choose an idea that feels good and maybe, like for Bridie and Daisy is a challenge that helps you grow too 🙂
We want to raise enough money to secure our project for at least another year which will allow us to double our student intake to at least 300 students.
Donors will be invited to follow Bridie and Daisy along the Camino de Santiago. You can also receive updates and newsletters from Language Linkers by emailing [email protected], to keep informed about how your donation is creating change in refugee lives.
Mary Cotter