When you want to help, it is important to be wise. Don’t be naive. Use your common sense. Don’t put yourself or your family in harm’s way. If you wish to do something, do so with a group of people, not all by yourself. Better if you channel your efforts through professional bodies.

Also, consider the people you want to help. Do not jeopardize their security or ignore their cultural, religious, political sensitivities and most of all, their fears. Be respectful and recognize their right to privacy. They have a choice whether to accept or reject help. Don’t stereotype them: no people are inherently good or evil. Don’t patronize. And don’t give money directly.

Here are some suggestions from us:

What we can do as individuals

1. Show kindness. Dignify the migrant worker (the maid, the waiter, the construction worker, the garbage collector, etc.) you encounter with a smile, with an interest in the person, with polite language, with a generous spirit, knowing that they are not as educated or skilled as you.
2. Leave the gleanings for the poor. This idea is found in Ruth. Loose change, old newspapers, aluminium cans, use your imagination. I give prepaid dollars in my digi (which I can never use up except wastefully) to the indonesian lady who cleans my house.
3. Pray. As Christians we believe that prayer moves the hand of God. Prayer should also move God’s people. A good way to start is to browse through the 50 Refugees website and pray as the Lord stirs you through the life stories there.

What we can do as a church

1. Start by cultivating relationships with those who are already involved whether NGOs or Christian ministries. Resources and time are limited, and partnership is better than going solo. A good start would be inviting representatives from organizations like Tenaganita (http://www.tenaganita.net/), O2F Network (O2F - “Outreach to Foreign/Migrant Workers” http://www.migrantministry.com/index.php), Migration Working Group (http://migrationmalaysia.net/). Before we jump into any ideas we might have, let us first listen to those who are in the heart of what is happening. Of course, some churches would have the resources to do the work themselves, but the enormity of the challenges as well as the need for discernment calls us to work together for long term transformation.
2. Incorporate “World Refugee Day” (June 20) and “International Migrant’s Day” (December 18) into the corporate life of the church. This can include having segments of intercession during the Sunday Worship services, inviting people to share their stories to the church, and even a special message focused on the plight of those who are marginalized and cast away. An example of this is found in my article on “Hearing the cry of the refugee” based on the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Check out some resources here at http://refugeehighway.net/
3. Support the work to refugees and migrants financially, while it’s natural for churches to give to Christian organizations, consider even supporting NGOs. I believe apart from the financial support, what is extra valuble is when the church can cultivate a respectful and enriching working relationship with NGOs which while not distinctively Christian but work towards justice which we can all agree on!
4. Encourage church members to participate in the work, or even redirect more human resource in terms of volunteers in areas of dire need, e.g. education. Provide the needed practical orientation, and theological/biblical framework so we operate out of wisdom as well as passion. The Micah Challenge (http://www.micahchallenge.org/) is a good place to start for a broader picture. The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (http://www.lirs.org/) has a good balance of resources. Another resource is EmbraceNI (http://www.embraceni.org/)

What we can do in partnership with established organizations

For more involved efforts, you can explore the following. These are much more effective if you do so through an established organization.

1. Befriending, care
   - friendship, encouragement,
   - visiting refugees in detention centres, prisons and hospitals
   
2. Creating awareness and building popular support
   - organising forums, writing articles
   - speaking to MPs, politicians, church leaders
   
3. Provision of assistance
   - milk and nutrition for babies, children and pregnant women in detention and in communities
   - food, clothes, etc.
   
4. Education
   - For refugee community schools - funds, volunteer teachers, curriculum, books, bags, stationery
   - For adults - English/Malay/Chinese classes, skills training, income generating projects for women
   
5. Medical
   - assistance/ funds for particularly vulnerable group
   - for medical staff - providing counseling and therapy for traumatised, doctors willing to charge cheaper fees, vaccination
   
6. Volunteering for organisations
   - helping do documentation
   - translating (if people know different languages)
   - administrative support
   - whatever skills they have - newsletters, etc.
   

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