A Huge Thanks to Our CUNY Interns!

Our three extraordinary CUNY Career Launch interns, Jolie Camara, Stephanie Cruz-Lopez, and Moheeb Kaied completed their Social Services Access Team internship at Cafewal, a resource center for asylum seekers located in NYC’s East Village. During their 6-week internship Stephanie, Moheeb, and Jolie each worked more than 114 hours, helping over 160 community members navigate immigration issues, apply for work authorization, create resumes, find employment, and obtain social services and benefits. 

Interns Jolie Camara, Stephanie Cruz-Lopez, and Moheeb Kaied on the last day of their internship (Photo by Diamy Bah).

Our interns became familiar with the immigration system, New York’s social services, and the various application processes necessary to access these systems. They also learn how to work with interpreters and other volunteers. 

Moheeb Kaied is an urban studies major at Hunter College. Born in Yemen and raised in Brooklyn, he is deeply committed to helping refugees and immigrants in underserved communities.  In addition to helping community members access resources, Moheeb also tracks the type of assistance he and his colleagues are providing in order to assess the internship’s impact. Moheeb is interested in working with community-based organizations to gain the skills necessary to build a better future for refugees and New York City as a whole. 

Jolie Camara studies political science at Hunter College with a minor in international relations. She is also earning a certificate in human rights. Jolie’s personal experience of coming to New York seven years ago led her to RTP and Cafewal. She understands the struggle that new arrivals go through and wants to help people feel welcome in New York. Jolie applies her Bambara, Mandingo, and French fluency to help people feel seen and understood.

Stephanie Cruz-Lopez double majors in English and Spanish at Baruch College. As a first generation Mexican American, she understands the fear and hardships her family experienced when making a new life here and is driven to help others who are undergoing the same process. Stephanie uses her language skills to make the space more inclusive to Spanish-speakers, while also working with volunteer interpreters to assist speakers of other languages. 

Impact report created by intern Moheeb Kaied.

They came alone. They shouldn’t face this alone.

Can you imagine coming to the US alone with a fear of being detained or deported? Who will help you?

The Refugee Translation Project faces this reality everyday when helping our most vulnerable clients: unaccompanied youth.

These children and young adults under the age of 21 have fled physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, and violence. They cannot return to their home countries for fear of their safety, even death.

For many of these young people, a legal path forward is called Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and it begins with translating extensive paperwork.

SIJS is a two-step process:

  • A family court must first issue a guardianship order to a supportive adult or family member, along with issuing a special findings order – that the youth is eligible for SIJS
  • The youth must then apply for SIJS by submitting Form I-360 to USCIS,  with documentation such as their birth certificate and, if applicable, their parents’ death certificates. The documents must be received by USCIS prior to the youth’s 21st birthday

Despite attempts by the federal government to weaken SIJS, receiving this status still creates a pathway to green card or lawful permanent residency.

In 2026 alone, RTP has supported 25 SIJS cases, mostly through our partner ROCC NYC. Of these cases, 13 have passed the family court phase awaiting approval by USCIS, and 2 have already obtained SIJS!

Each one of these cases represents a young person facing many difficulties, without family members or friends to help them navigate this complex and intimidating process. Everyone deserves a chance to succeed. And to live a life with dignity and safety.  

Your donation directly supports RTP in doing this important work. A gift of $100 translates two principal documents: their birth certificate and the death certificate of a parent. 

These kids have already survived so much. Your donation ensures that language is not the thing that stops them.

Hiring Now for NYIC VISTA position at Refugee Translation Project!

Do you want to

  • Help end immigrant poverty?
  • Develop valuable nonprofit skills and experience?
  • Give back to the community?
  • Support an organization working with the immigrant and refugee community members?

If so, apply today to the NYIC VISTA position at Refugee Translation Project!

NYIC VISTAs are AmeriCorps VISTAs who – through the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) – engage in a year of full-time paraprofessional service at a nonprofit host organization, where they work on capacity-building projects that support their host in being able to carry out immigrant-focused anti-poverty programs and services.

The NYIC VISTA will work full-time for 12 months at Refugee Translation Project on capacity building projects around fundraising and communications.

Program benefits include:

  • Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
  • Childcare assistance if eligible
  • Living Allowance
  • Health Coverage
  • Training
  • Relocation Allowance

To learn more information about this position and apply, please click here