What We Do
How F.R.E.E. Began
Kelli Czaykowsky, a Christian living in Atlanta, learned of the plight of Clarkston’s refugees. Upon visiting the local refugee community, she spoke with the children. They shared their stories of fleeing for their lives, being separated from their families, watching their homes being burned, and trying to survive in the wild. I couldn’t sleep for three nights. I saw the kids living in gang- and drug-riddled neighborhoods, sleeping on the floors of run-down apartments infested with fleas, rats, and roaches with piles of trash scattered around. The burden on my heart was so great, I just had to do something. I prayed, “God, I’m only one person, but if you open the doors for me to make a difference, I’ll walk through them.”
In 2010 Kelli and two close friends founded a nonprofit organization called FREE, which stands for Friends of Refugees Providing Education and Empowerment. Through FREE, Kelli and a group of volunteers provide refugees with the resources to empower them to become self-sufficient, thriving community members. FREE volunteers secure necessities including clothing, furniture, household goods, mattresses, food, appliances, etc. We also provide ESL )(English as Second Language) classes for adults and one-on-one tutoring for students plus we offer assistance with job searches, college applications, medical paperwork, and job training. We arrange appointments and transport refugees to their medical, dental, eye, and legal appointments. We paint and repair apartments, plant gardens, mow grass and weeds plus trash clean up in the refugee neighborhoods.
“When I see these kids succeed after being brought up in really tough situations, it makes me feel amazing,” Kelli states. “This is God at work. I’m just a little part of His plan,” says Kelli Czaykowsky.
We Aspire…
to provide refugee children the opportunity to receive a quality Christian education no longer restricted by the circumstances of economics, language, or birth.
Kelli, dedicated president of F.R.E.E., highlights the amazing success of the F.R.E.E. organization's outreach activities into the refugee community of Clarkston, Georgia / USA to support the refugee families and to provide education for their children.
Visit us on Facebook at… http://facebook.com/FREErefugee