African Independence Development (AID) is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity with a stated mission “to enhance African independence through supporting long-term educational and agricultural projects.” Our current priority project provides a life-transforming educational investment by helping African refugees to help themselves. We believe that teaching skills and providing learning opportunities will allow people to lift themselves out of poverty and change their nation. As refugees become enthusiastically engaged in their own futures, together we can create sustainable ways to empower individuals to work to change their own destinies and the destiny of their nation.

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In 2001, James Ayuen—one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”—came to the United States sponsored by a government program. The “Lost Boys” were so named by the TV show 60-Minutes, referring to a group of young Sudanese boys, separated from their families, who walked over 1,200 miles from South Sudan to Ethiopia to escape the effects of war.

James’ story of adapting to life in the United States is a remarkable journey. Despite obstacles of language and culture, he was able to graduate from high school, earn a master's degree in public administration, and find employment. He married his wife Priscilla from his native South Sudan. Together they own a home in North Ogden, where he and his wife are now raising five beautiful children.

In September 2023, the United States government offered a new program, WelcomeCorps.org, that invites private citizens to join as sponsors and bring persons from refugee camps to the United States. James and Priscilla hope to spread their good fortune by paying it forward as they bring refugees to Utah from Africa. These refugees have been living in poverty in the camps since escaping war. The refugees chosen to be a part of this program all speak and write English and hope to further their education in the United States so they can bolster their communities back home.

We need your help!

As a private donor, sponsor, or volunteer you can make their dreams come true.

Donors: For each refugee, we must raise a minimum of $2,425 . Our group of sponsors and volunteers take care of the needs for refugee integration, but we need the funding to make this possible. Please donate as much as you can.

Can you, your family, or a small group provide for one refugee for 3 months with a $2,425 donation? Even small donations help!

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Sponsors: As a Welcome Corps sponsor you are responsible to take a training course about the program, complete a background check, and sign some paperwork to allow the refugees to enter the program. While you are welcome to help with housing, transportation, and care of the refugees, you are not required to do so. The team of volunteers that work with AID will help with everything the refugees need. You are responsible to know where the refugee is living and to check on them periodically to make sure their needs are being met for the first 3 months of their residency in the U.S. Sponsors must live within 20 miles of the refugees they are sponsoring.

Volunteers: As an AID volunteer you can help with the integration program. Your gift of time and knowledge will help new refugees become acclimated to life in the United States. Many of the lost boys found that the most challenging part of these opportunities is becoming acclimated to the culture in the U.S. It may be something as simple as demonstrating how to use an ATM, explaining traffic rules, or describing traditions around holidays. It may be providing meals or helping a refugee to find a bike. It could be checking on a refugee to make sure they are accountable with a job search or that they have applied to college. How much and when you help is completely up to you.

How Can I Help?

Pre-arrival Help Needed

Private citizens to sponsor groups of refugees.
- Sponsors must be U.S. citizens over the age of 18 to register.
- Sponsors must live in a 20-mile radius of where the refugees are living.
- Sponsors are engaged in making sure the refugee's needs are being met for the first 3 months of residency.
  - Sponsors ARE NOT SOLEY required to house, feed, provide medical care, or provide transportation to the refugees. If the sponsor wants to be involved in these activities, they are welcome to do so, but African Independence Development has the resources to provide all of these services regardless of the sponsor's ability to help.
Donations: Raise a minimum of $2,425 per refugee to cover basic needs for 3 months. Donate Here!
- 60% of funds must be raised before refugees can be approved to come.
- 100% of funds must be raised before the refugee arrives in the U.S.
- Your gift of funding is a tax-deductible donation to an IRS-approved and tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
Please help us by leveraging your networks to accomplish these goals.

Post-arrival Help Needed

Be a friend to refugees and help them to acclimate to U.S. culture.
Local networking helps them make connections that will lead to jobs and education opportunities.
Functional orientation to help refugees understand how to operate in society. Refugees may not be used to the common modern services we use in everyday interactions.
All refugees speak and write English but they may need help to understand idioms and colloquialisms we use regularly that may be confusing to them.
Transportation needs such as learning how to use public transportation or obtaining rides to important locations to fulfill requirements of U.S. residency, such as registering with certain government programs.

Welcome Corps Provides

Employment counseling and assistance.
Government benefits to help them get established.
Medical screenings and lists of medical providers.

African Independence Development Provides

Mentors who understand the process of obtaining residency in the U.S. and can help the refugees with experiences that may be confusing to them. Mentors will also help with the process of acclimating to U.S. society.
Connections to volunteers who will help the refugees obtain the services they need and integrate into the culture.
Assistance to obtain housing.
Assistance to register for schooling.
Computer use technical training for the first 3 months and advanced computer training for interested refugees for the next 2 years including training in basic coding skills.
A network of individuals to be their friends.

GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO HELP

THEMSELVES & THEIR COUNTRY

We are a small organization of citizens who want to help in small but significant ways, and by these small acts, great things are possible. Join us!