2018 was a challenging year for HIAS as we continued our work of fighting for refugees and asylum seekers.

HIAS joins in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the international campaign to stop violence against women and girls.

HIAS Ecuador and TATA Consultancy Services (TCS), the largest IT services multinational company in Latin America, have signed a cooperation agreement that will benefit refugee families in Ecuador.

"My biggest dream is to own a bakery where I can give jobs to people who need it," Patricia says.

Long praised for who they were serving, HIAS in Ecuador is now being recognized for how they are serving.

Rather than being intimidated by the economic crisis in her adopted city, María Eugenia took the initiative to start her own business. She makes and sells a traditional cheese called queso amasado. You can now buy her products in three Ecuadorian cities.

“These young people were looking to talk about their lives, their dreams and their experiences as refugees. We thought that photography was a good way to tell these stories,” said HIAS Psychologist Cesar Torres. The exhibition, held at one of the largest theaters in the area, featured the work of six refugee youth following seven months of training and artistic development.

It’s not an exaggeration to call the current refugee crisis global. Its effects are truly being seen worldwide. Meet Dannah, who fled her native Damascus with her mother and daughter and is now rebuilding her life in Ecuador, with help from HIAS.

On June 20, 2016, World Refugee Day celebrations around the world honored the bravery and perseverance of the millions of men, women and children who are refugees today—and also provided an opportunity for refugees themselves to have a bit of fun.

“A disaster of this scale really takes a toll, not only on the victims but on the responders. It’s not easy to be in the field and see this kind of sadness,” said Sabrina Lustgarten, director of HIAS Ecuador. “Our goal is to support those doing this very difficult emergency work, to prevent burnout and enable them to continue to respond effectively.”