Around the world, journalists are at greater risk than ever. War, civil unrest, and violent repression have driven many members of the media to leave their home countries and seek refuge abroad.

The Journalism Refugee Education Fund (JREF) was established to support these journalism refugees, including local staff members who worked alongside international journalists as drivers, translators, and other essential roles. Specifically, JREF offers support for education and training in the U.S. for journalism refugees’ and their family members.

The organization was founded by a group of New York Times employees who led the evacuation of The Times’s Afghan staff and their families in August 2021, ultimately bringing more than 200 adults and children to safety in the U.S. and Canada.

The Afghan evacuees' experiences highlighted the barriers journalism refugees face to successful resettlement. One of the most significant is that many lack the necessary educational qualifications to secure economic stability and success outside their home countries. Some of the evacuees already obtained degrees abroad but they must restart their educational paths because their degrees are not recognized here. Others have children who now aspire to go to college.

JREF’s essential mission is to support those educational objectives for journalism refugees and their immediate family members. JREF will provide grants to fill the gap between the financial aid received by the student and the total expenses facing the student – the so-called “last dollar.” JREF’s ambition is to provide grants to 10 to 15 students in the first year and to at least double the number in year two. JREF also is organizing educational guidance, counseling support, and a small fund to assist with SAT/ACT prep courses, registration fees, and college application fees.

Your donation will help support this vital work. Thank you for your support.

The Journalism Refugees Education Fund provides local or international news refugees with financial assistance to pursue educational opportunities. Donations to Local Media Foundation for this project are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions. Please consult a tax advisor for details. The program is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.