Family Reunification and Legal Protection Program

Youth Voices Community (YVC), a refugee-led organization based in Nairobi, runs a comprehensive Family Reunification and Legal Protection Program in partnership with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). The program addresses the urgent need for family reunification and legal support among refugees, focusing on case referrals, legal awareness, and community engagement. Despite evolving policy challenges, YVC remains a trusted bridge between refugee communities and legal assistance, ensuring that refugees are informed, supported, and empowered throughout the reunification process.

Objective

To increase access to family reunification and complementary legal pathways for refugees by providing accurate information, case referrals, legal guidance, and community-based advocacy.

To strengthen the capacity of refugees to navigate complex legal processes and access documentation, while building partnerships that expand legal protection and support.

Key Activities:

Legal Advice and Paralegal Support

 The YVC Justice Centre is staffed by trained refugee paralegals who offer confidential legal advice, conduct case assessments, and provide referrals for complex legal matters. Services focus on documentation, protection, and access to justice for vulnerable refugees.

Family Reunification Assistance:
For refugees seeking to reunite with relatives abroad, the Justice Centre provides guidance on legal procedures, documentation, and liaises with relevant agencies. Complex or delayed cases are referred to expert partners such as IRAP for further support.

Rights Awareness and Legal Literacy:
Regular workshops and information sessions educate refugees about their rights, available legal remedies, and how to navigate the Kenyan legal system.

Data-Driven Casework:
The Justice Centre systematically documents cases and tracks trends, using this data to inform advocacy efforts and identify systemic barriers facing refugees.

YVC’s approach integrates research, advocacy, and legal support to create a holistic, data-driven response to the challenges facing urban refugees. By centering refugee voices and leadership at every stage from identifying needs to advocating for solutions and delivering justice YVC ensures that its programs are relevant, effective, and sustainable.

Activities

Case Referrals and Legal Support
 YVC screens, documents, and refers eligible family reunification cases to IRAP. For those not eligible, YVC provides legal guidance on alternative pathways such as third-country resettlement, educational migration, humanitarian parole, and legal aid12.

Community Consultations and Outreach
The team conducts in-person and phone consultations, receiving and responding to inquiries from refugees seeking reunification support. Outreach events, such as the Githurai Community Forum, bring together refugees, community leaders, and legal partners to discuss legal protection, documentation, and family reunification1.

Information Dissemination and Workshops
 YVC organizes workshops and community forums to educate refugees about eligibility criteria, application processes, and available legal pathways. Materials and presentations clarify complex procedures and address misinformation2.

Document Assistance
 Many refugees lack complete documentation. YVC assists in gathering and verifying essential documents (e.g., marriage and birth certificates) required for legal processes.

Legal Partnerships and Advocacy
 YVC collaborates with organizations like Kituo cha Sheria to accelerate access to civil documentation, address migration-related legal concerns, and provide pro bono support to vulnerable cases. The program also advocates for more inclusive and streamlined reunification policies.

Continuous Coordination and Capacity Building
 Bi-weekly meetings with IRAP and ongoing training for staff and community members ensure effective case management, up-to-date legal knowledge, and improved referral outcomes.

Impact on the Community

  • Increased Access to Legal Support:
    Dozens of families have been connected to legal assistance for family reunification, with 9 eligible cases referred to IRAP in the last quarter alone.

  • Empowered Refugee Communities:
    Refugees are better informed about their rights and the processes involved in family reunification, reducing misinformation and increasing self-advocacy.

  • Improved Documentation:
    Targeted support has helped refugees overcome documentation barriers, particularly among underserved groups like Rwandan, Somali, and Eritrean communities1.

  • Strengthened Partnerships:
    Collaboration with legal aid organizations and community leaders has expanded the reach and effectiveness of protection efforts.

  • Community Cohesion and Representation:
    Outreach events bring together diverse refugee groups, fostering social cohesion, shared learning, and collective problem-solving.

  • Sustainable Advocacy:
    YVC’s refugee-led approach ensures that programming is responsive to real community needs and that advocacy efforts reflect lived experiences, influencing policy and practice at local and international levels.

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