About Us

Our Mission

To support, empower and advocate for people from the Horn of Africa and beyond in Northern Ireland, advancing inclusion, equality and integration through community-led solutions grounded in lived experience.

Who We Are

HAPANI (Horn of Africa People’s Aid NI) is a refugee-led organisation supporting newcomers from the Horn of Africa — and people from over 68 nationalities — to build safe, empowered and connected lives in Northern Ireland.

Founded in 2011 by volunteers with lived experience of displacement, we have grown into a trusted provider of advice, advocacy, housing, youth support and integration programmes

Our Values

Dignity

Every person is respected, heard and valued.

Safety

Physical and emotional protection comes first.

Equity

Challenging systemic barriers and inequality.

Community

Building relationships, belonging and mutual support.

Leadership

Nurturing the voices and talents of refugees and newcomers.

Hope

Believing in futures of possibility and contribution.

Lived Experience Leadership

Our board, staff and volunteers include people who have experienced displacement. This shapes everything: our credibility, our insight, our compassion, our advocacy.

Who We Work With

We support anyone seeking asylum, refugees, and migrant communities, regardless of nationality, gender, faith or immigration status.

Strategic Aims

1

To amplify the voices of refugee and migrant communities from the Horn of Africa and beyond, influence policy, and challenge the systemic injustices that prevent full participation and equality.

We will provide accessible, culturally competent advice and advocacy services, champion lived experience leadership and engage with decision-makers to hold institutions to account through research, campaigns, media and public engagement.

2

To promote integration and build meaningful relationships between communities by fostering cultural understanding, belonging, and mutual respect.

We will create opportunities for connection, dialogue, collaboration, and intercultural exchange across all levels of society.

3

To provide safe, dignified, and affordable homes for refugees through a refugee-led model of community-based housing.

Through Retreat Housing we will grow a network of properties, integrate tenancy support, and advocate for housing justice within public policy and provision.

4

To nurture the potential of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds by supporting their education, wellbeing, leadership, and connection to community.

We will expand youth-focused services, support families navigating education systems, and build spaces for youth voice and belonging.

5

To improve access to training, employment and entrepreneurship through inclusive pathways and the growth of refugee-led social enterprises.

We will innovative new social enterprises such as Retreat Repairs, in partner with training providers, and advocate for inclusive labour market practices that recognise refugee talent.

6

To strengthen HAPANI’s capacity, governance, and resource base to deliver long-term impact and remain rooted in community leadership.

We will invest in our team and volunteers, secure core and diversified funding, grow income-generating initiatives, acquire adequate premises and build strong partnerships across sectors to ensure financial sustainability and shared impact.

Partners

We collaborate with schools, councils, housing providers, community organisations, churches, businesses, and academic institutions — creating shared impact and avoiding duplication.

Board

Staff