Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland (HAPANI) is an inclusive, non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals from the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan) and beyond in Northern Ireland. Established in 2011 by volunteers with lived experience of displacement, HAPANI is a registered charity (NIC101637) committed to building a more inclusive, just, and equitable society for newcomers in Northern Ireland. Based in Belfast, HAPANI works with people of all ethnicities, religions, genders, and immigration statuses.
Refugees and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa face complex, overlapping challenges — including language and digital barriers, insecure housing, restricted access to work, mental health needs, and racial inequality within the asylum system. These issues are often intensified by trauma, social isolation, family separation, and difficulty navigating schools, healthcare, and public services.
Over the past 14 years, HAPANI has evolved from a grassroots initiative into a trusted voice for refugee inclusion, human rights, and systemic change. The organisation delivers practical support to hundreds of individuals each year, helping them overcome poverty, marginalisation, and institutional barriers. Services include casework, interpretation, advice, advocacy, youth development, and pathways to education, employment, and training.
HAPANI’s leadership is grounded in lived experience — bringing deep insight and credibility within communities. This connection has fostered trust and long-term engagement across a diverse refugee and newcomer population. Key activities include drop-in support, digital access, youth work, homework clubs, integration programmes, and initiatives to challenge hate crime and promote tolerance.
Vision
HAPANI’s vision is an inclusive Northern Ireland& the Republic of Ireland, where Horn of Africa refugees and asylum seekers overcome barriers, achieve equality, and build successful futures.
Mission
HAPANI exists to support, empower and advocate for people from the Horn of Africa and beyond in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, advancing inclusion, equality and integration through community-led solutions grounded in lived experience.
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 www.retreathousing.org 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.
Strategic Objectives
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.
Objectives:
1.1 Provide accessible, culturally competent advice through a dedicated drop-in centre.
1.2 Deliver welfare, benefits and housing advice and make appropriate referrals to statutory and voluntary services for support, including on education, disability and domestic violence.
1.3 Support access to health services and culturally appropriate referrals to enable support for mental health, trauma recovery and wellbeing.
1.4 Support financial health and digital inclusion (access to computers, Wi-Fi, SIM cards etc).
1.5 Provide short-term crisis support for people with no recourse to public funds.
1.6 Respond to and influence government strategies and policies affecting refugees and asylum seekers.
1.7 Host public consultations on behalf of public bodies to engage refugee communities.
1.8 Offer cultural competency training to private, public and third-sector agencies.
1.9 Develop strategic research partnerships with academic institutions to gather data and influence policy.
2. To promote integration and build meaningful relationships between communities by fostering cultural understanding, belonging, and mutual respect.
Objectives:
2.1 Facilitate ongoing structured community connection events and cross-cultural dialogue that build bridges, understanding, tolerance and integration across communities.
2.2 Advocate for and support individuals experiencing intimidation, racism, hate crime and racial discrimination.
2.3 Deliver neighbour support schemes to connect newly arrived refugees with local residents, promoting everyday acts of solidarity, shared learning, and practical support within neighbourhoods.
2.4 Develop and deliver educational outreach programmes on refugee issues and inclusion, such as an ‘asylum seeker for a day’ experience.
2.5 Deliver programmes addressing racism, intolerance, and cultural misunderstanding.
2.6 Promote international responsibility by supporting international development initiatives in the Horn of Africa.
3. To provide safe, dignified, and affordable homes for refugees and asylum seekers through a refugee-led model of community-based housing.
Objectives:
3.1 Expand Retreat Housing’s property portfolio in safe, welcoming communities, providing homes that meet high standards of safety, comfort, and cultural sensitivity.
3.2 Deliver holistic tenancy support services, including pre-tenancy, ongoing wellbeing check-ins, and referral to health, education, employment, and legal services.
3.3 Operate a transparent referral and selection system for tenants based on need, prioritising those at risk of homelessness or with barriers to accessing mainstream housing.
3.4 Collaborate with community stakeholders to promote local understanding and acceptance of newcomers, including in areas impacted by socio-economic deprivation or paramilitary influence.
3.5 Partner with government, private developers, housing providers, and social investors to secure long-term assets and develop an investable model for refugee-led housing.
3.6 Position Retreat Housing as a role model for community-led housing by completing a pilot evaluation, sharing learning, shaping policy, and encouraging replication.
3.7 Advocate for housing justice and systemic reform that removes structural barriers for refugees in accessing safe, stable accommodation.
4. To nurture the potential of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds by supporting their education, wellbeing, leadership, and connection to community.
Objectives:
4.1 Deliver the Ignite Programme as a flagship youth initiative, enabling young people to co-design and lead cross-community projects addressing social and environmental challenges.
4.2 Provide educational support through homework clubs, mentoring, and school outreach, supporting young people to reach their full academic potential.
4.3 Expand youth sport and physical wellbeing activities to promote health, confidence, and peer connection.
4.4 Offer tailored support for refugee children and their families navigating school admissions and transitions.
4.5 Build partnerships with youth-focused organisations to widen access to training, volunteering, and leadership pathways.
4.6 Support the personal development of young people through creative and digital activities that foster belonging and self-expression.
4.7 Engage youth in advocacy and consultation, ensuring their voices shape public policy, services, and community planning.
5. To improve access to training, employment and entrepreneurship through inclusive pathways and the growth of refugee-led social enterprises.
Objectives:
5.1 Develop Retreat Repairs as a refugee-staffed employability and maintenance enterprise.
5.2 Develop new ventures: an English language school, childcare and childminding service, drop-in café, women-only gym, and consultancy social enterprise.
5.3 Tender for government contracts and secure ethical social investment.
5.4 Position HAPANI as a social value delivery partner to private sector companies.
5.5 Provide business and enterprise support to smaller newcomer organisations.
6. To strengthen HAPANI’s capacity, governance, and resource base to deliver long-term impact and remain rooted in community leadership.
Objectives:
6.1 Design and implement an income generation and community wealth-building strategy.
6.2 Secure multi-year core and project funding to sustain operations.
6.3 Design the optimal staffing structure to deliver the strategy effectively.
6.4 Invest in team development, volunteer leadership and succession planning.
6.5 Secure capital assets and larger premises to accommodate our housing and service expansion.
6.6 Build financial management, HR systems and administrative infrastructure.
6.7 Offer volunteer placements and build a structured volunteer development programme.
6.8 Build strong strategic partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
6.9 Monitor, evaluate and learn from our work to continuously improve impact.