Get to Know About ECAR
In September 2015, Pope Francis called on every European parish to host one refugee family. This simple yet powerful appeal resonated deeply with Dr. Abdo, sparking a revolutionary idea: Why couldn’t colleges and universities, with their abundant resources and supportive communities, serve as sanctuaries for refugees?
Motivated by this question, Dr. Abdo published an influential article titled “Re-imagining the University in a Time of Crisis: Every Campus A Refuge Campaign” in Jadaliyya in 2015. This piece laid the foundation for what would soon become a global movement, challenging academic institutions to go beyond traditional education and take direct action in addressing one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time.
Dr. Abdo envisioned college campuses not just as centers of learning but as physical sanctuaries – places of refuge and safety in times of crisis. She argued that campuses are uniquely equipped to host refugees, offering housing, food, medical care, and a supportive community, all within a self-sufficient, self-regulating environment. This radical reimagining of what a campus could be formed the core of ECAR’s mission.
The Call to Action: Dr. Abdo’s vision was clear: colleges and universities should not only educate about global crises but also actively engage in solving them. She called on academic institutions to leverage their resources, expertise, and human capital to provide immediate, tangible support to refugees. This was not just about symbolic gestures or academic exercises – it was about real, meaningful action.
From Vision to Reality
Guilford College Leads the Way: In January 2016, Guilford College in North Carolina became the first institution to answer Dr. Abdo’s call. Partnering with CWS Greensboro, a local refugee resettlement agency, the college began hosting refugee families on campus, providing them with free housing, utilities, and access to campus facilities and resources. This initiative quickly grew, with the college hosting over a hundred refugees in campus houses and apartments.
A Bold Vision: Dr. Abdo, herself the child of refugees, recognized that universities and colleges have the resources, facilities, and communities necessary to support refugee resettlement. She proposed a radical reimagining of the campus—not just as a place of learning, but as a sanctuary, a refuge in times of global crisis.
The success of ECAR at Guilford College was made possible by the collective efforts of the college community. Students, faculty, alumni, staff, and local volunteers came together, offering their skills and time to support the resettlement process. This community-driven approach became a hallmark of the ECAR model, demonstrating the power of collaboration in making a difference. The volunteers provide refugees with free housing, utilities, and access to college facilities, as well as a warm and welcoming community.
Beyond humanitarian aid, ECAR offers an unparalleled educational experience for students. By engaging in the day-to-day work of supporting refugees, students gain firsthand knowledge of global issues like the refugee crisis and forced displacement. They also learn about local concerns such as immigrant and refugee life in Greensboro. This experiential learning transforms abstract academic concepts into real-world applications, deeply impacting both the students and the refugees they assist.
Expanding the Movement:
What began as a single college’s response to a global crisis has now grown into a nationwide movement. Other institutions, including Lafayette College, Wake Forest University, Old Dominion University, and more, have joined ECAR in hosting refugees. This expansion reflects the initiative’s powerful potential to transform the landscape of refugee resettlement and higher education. Recognized by the White House, the United Nations, and various media outlets, ECAR is spreading its mission of compassion and action across the globe.
Educational Integration:
To further institutionalize its mission, ECAR introduced a 16-credit minor at Guilford College in Fall 2017. This academic program, titled the Principled Problem Solving Experience, equips students with the knowledge and skills to advocate for refugees, organize support efforts, and implement projects that assist in resettlement. By centralizing refugee voices and experiences, the minor connects academic learning with tangible impact, preparing students to be leaders in social justice and humanitarian efforts. Similar curricular components are now being implemented at many ECAR campuses.
Recognition and Awards:
ECAR’s innovative approach has garnered widespread recognition and several prestigious awards, including the WES Values Award (2024), the Emerson Collective Fellowship (2024), the JM Kaplan Innovation Prize (2021), the Yousif Badri Civic Engagement International Prize (2021), the Gulf South Summit’s Outstanding Service-Learning Collaboration in Higher Education Award (2017), and The Washington Center’s Higher Education Civic Engagement Award (2017). These accolades affirm ECAR’s significant contribution to both education and global refugee resettlement.
Transformative Impact
Transformative Experience:
- Transformed the lives of volunteers.
- Positively impacted the refugees resettling in the US.
Real-World Learning
- Global issues like the refugee crisis and forced displacement.
- Local concerns like immigrant and refugee life in their city.