Showing Tag: "unaccompanied" (Show all posts)

When Strangers Become Family

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, May 24, 2019, In : Unaccompanied Refugee Youth

It's been a while since we posted a blog post. In February, a young lady named Esther from the Democratic Republic of Congo moved in with us. She is an unaccompanied asylee and was aging out of the Office of Refugee Resettlement youth system. She needed a home and wanted to be part of a family. After a quick Zoom chat and some prayer, John and I invited Esther to live with us. She agreed and moved in on her 18th birthday.

We've had ups and downs together and lots of learning. Most days we lau...
Continue reading ...

Because You Can Make a Difference

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, In : Response

When people hear that we moved to Philly to foster refugee kids they are generally pretty blown away. I truly appreciate this, as we know it is not common to pick up and move in order to take in someone else’s kids. But, honestly, what seems to impact folks is the heart behind our decision. That’s the part we see folks connect with as many quickly want to know how they too can help. So, here’s a not so big secret….no one has to move in order to help these kiddos who’ve lost family, ...
Continue reading ...

Responding to the Biblical Call

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, February 22, 2018, In : Response

With almost 2 months behind us in 2018, not much has changed for the situation of unaccompanied youth in Europe. It doesn't seem 2018 will be much different than 2017 as borders remain closed and governments seem more focused on ways to reject asylum claims rather than help people in desperate need. However, we do recognize that the call to help "the least of these" or "the orphan and the widow" or "the foreigner" is a Biblical one not a political one. This is why we continue to focus on the ...
Continue reading ...

To App or Not to App, That Was the Question

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, In : Response

One of the objectives of our summer visits with ministries in Europe was to vet out the smartphone app that we had been hoping to develop with a goal of connecting unaccompanied youth with ministries that could help them along their travels. We achieved this, but with different results than we expected as we realized that this is not the timing for such an app.

Unfortunately, as many countries across Europe have closed their borders, movement between countries has dropped down to just a trick...
Continue reading ...

What Does the Future Look Like?

Posted by Kaylee K on Thursday, August 10, 2017, In : Response

As we sit in a flat in Paris watching the rain and listening to the sounds of the city, we're struck by the ups and downs of our travels this summer. We have met with a variety of ministries and individuals who are helping unaccompanied asylum-seeking youth as well as refugees. We’ve had some opportunities to spend time with the youth themselves. And, we’ve continued to learn about their ongoing challenges, the heartache for those left behind and the trauma resulting from awful situations...
Continue reading ...

Love Europe

Posted by Kaylee K on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, In : Refugee Stories

This sand art video is a beautiful look at a challenging journey. Wonder why "they" leave home? Who they are? What happens when they get here? Take a few minutes to experience this view into the world of the refugee journey created by the technology folks who created the Love Europe app. We are honored and humbled to work with this team as we determine how to use this technology to also help unaccompanied refugee children and youth traveling alone in Europe.

Continue reading ...

Welcome

Posted by Kaylee K on Friday, June 2, 2017, In : Response

"Welcome." A single word that can transform an experience.

When we arrived at the For Refugees offices on Tuesday a sign awaited us, “Welcome John & Kaylee”. In this one act, the organization that is hosting us this summer in London made it clear: we want you here; you have a place.

And I felt that. Not just in the sign. But also in the smiles that greeted us. In the words shared. In the attitudes of hospitality. And in the considerate acts such as a teammate showing us around the office ...
Continue reading ...

Mobilized for Unaccompanied Minors

Posted by Kaylee K on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, In : Unaccompanied Refugee Youth

It was an honor to share about unaccompanied refugee children and youth at this year’s Refugee Highway Partnership’s European Roundtable in Budapest last month. An honor, because while the news continues to be filled with horrific stories about abuses against these children and updates on governments that are reneging on commitments to help them, for a few days John and I got to be among people who are giving of themselves in remarkable ways for refugees. And, we got to hear stories of ho...

Looking for Light and Hope in Calais’ Jungle

Posted by Kaylee K on Sunday, October 23, 2016, In : France

Upon arrival at the Jungle (pictured above), we saw a large group gathered along the road and noticed police and an emergency vehicle. We learned that a man from the camp had been hurt in a fight with another man and was receiving medical treatment. Despite this, the make-shift camp in Calais seemed quite peaceful as 10,000 people await word on when the government will move them and to where. As I write this blog post, the French authorities have confirmed that evictions will begin on Monday ...

« Back to posts

Blog Authors

John and Kaylee Kolditz

Kaylee founded Refugee Connect in 2008. John joined the work in 2011 as we investigated the refugee situation in Europe. But our faith and cross-cultural journeys have been a work-in-progress for many years. Much of this blog reflects that. ************************************************ We met in Austin, TX, while volunteering at a serving event at Gateway Church and have been married since 2002. Marriage, parenting and ministry all require a great deal of intentionality, humility and true reliance on God for strength, wisdom, and grace. It is a journey we are grateful to be on together. Ultimately, what matters to us is building into meaningful relationships in ways that, to the best of our ability and by God's grace, demonstrate the love and hope Jesus freely offers to us all. ************************************************ We bring both business and ministry backgrounds into our current work. John started a business in his 20's and helped build several other businesses. He has also served with churches in a variety of roles including as an assistant pastor, director of community development, and missions board member. Kaylee left her marketing career to become the global missions director for our home church in Austin, TX, then founded a local refugee ministry, and became TEFL certified (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in order to prepare for our work overseas. We have led short-term teams domestically and internationally, and served with a variety of cross-cultural ministries. In 2008, we sensed a call to build into the church in Europe, which was also around the time when God broke Kaylee’s heart for refugees. Since then, God has continued to weave together this heart for refugees, desire to serve alongside the church, and focus on His call to Europe.

Helping Unaccompanied Refugee Youth