CandleLighters

The CandleLighters volunteer program is an initiative of HOST International to provide development opportunities to staff by supporting them on volunteer assignments overseas.

 These opportunities are designed to enhance the capacity of overseas refugee host organisations that are closely aligned with the purpose, objectives and values of HOST International.

 CandleLighters volunteer in countries where refugees are on their journey from crisis to settlement. They aim to empower these communities by helping to identify and expand community assets that support self-sufficiency.  

Candle Lighter NZ

At HOST International we believe effective community integration of refugees requires the support of the host community and most communities need assistance for this to occur. The arrival of large groups of displaced people into a community places pressure on the availability of existing resources as well as demands for new resources.  

Volunteer assignments are designed to enhance the capacity of overseas refugee host organisations that are closely aligned with the purpose, objectives and values of HOST International.

For more information on our CandleLighters’ work through out Asia, take a look at our blog.

Indonesia

In 2019, we arranged for a CandleLighters volunteer placement with Roshan Learning Centre in Jakarta for the role of GED Education Support Project Coordinator.

Roshan Learning Center is an Indonesian, community-led education program serving over 150 asylum seekers and refugees living in the greater Jakarta area. Roshan provides a space where refugees can experience healing from past trauma, safety in the present, and academic preparation for the future.

Roshan is managing the GED Support Project (GEDSP) in response to the community’s requests for access to formal education pathways. The GEDSP is a programme designed to facilitate refugee and asylum seekers access to the General Education Development (GED) Diploma, an internationally recognized US High School Equivalency credential. Participants in the GEDSP include Roshan Learning Center students and volunteer refugee teachers and managers from four learning centres in Cisarua.

Malaysia

In 2019, we arranged for a CandleLighters volunteer placement with Payong in Kuala Lumpur, for the role of Community Based Protection Volunteer.

Payong is a non-profit organization that has primarily focused on providing primary and secondary education to refugee children and youth through the organizations flagship initiative, the Fugee School.

Our CandleLighter will be working with the Community Self-Reliance (CSR) Programme, which is a partnership with UNHCR that offers small grants to community-based organisations that allows them to start up projects that support livelihood capacities.

Thailand

Since 2017 HOST International has been engaged with advocacy efforts in Thailand on the removal of children from detention facilities. In late 2018 HOST formed a partnership with the Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP) to be able to operate within the local organisational entity, Peaceway Foundation.

In January 2019 Host commenced a case management program for refugees and asylum seekers being released from immigration detention into the community.

HOST has began a livelihoods and vocational programme to support these families and other urban refugees to become more economically independent.