Asked often, answered plainly.

Use the Request a Service form, or tap the AI assistant and say “I just arrived.” A welcome volunteer in your city will help you prioritize — housing, school enrollment, benefits, work — and match you with a buddy family. Refugees and asylees: ask about resettlement support and the NYS New Americans Hotline, 1-800-566-7636. See also Newcomer Welcome.

Congolese families across upstate New York — refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants, students, and the U.S.-born second generation — plus friends, spouses, churches and partners who stand with the community. You don't have to be Congolese to belong here. See About Umoja243.

Fill in the membership application — it opens a ready-to-send email, and the team replies with your welcome packet and next steps. Membership types (Individual, Family, Youth, Elder) and any dues are confirmed by the organization when you apply; this concept site doesn't take payments.

Elected officers and program directors from the community. The Leadership & Team page shows each role and what it does; the board will publish the real names and photos there.

No. Potlucks, the Independence Day celebration, and culture mornings are open to everyone. Umoja243 strengthens the Congolese community — and strong communities welcome their neighbors in.

In general: you must be in the U.S., and you file Form I-589 with USCIS within one year of your last arrival. See the Immigration & Asylum section for the official USCIS steps — and get accredited legal help early, because deadlines and details depend on your case.

No. Everything here is general information from official sources (USCIS, NY State), not legal advice, and Umoja243 is a community organization, not a law firm. For your own case, use the free legal aid directory or the NYS New Americans Hotline, 1-800-566-7636.

Red flags: anyone guaranteeing a visa or selection, asking for payment by wire/gift card, keeping your documents or confirmation numbers, or “notarios” offering legal services. The DV Lottery is entered only at dvprogram.state.gov — see our DV Lottery guide and the Safety & Protection section.

As of November 2026 the DV Lottery is suspended: DV-2027 registration never opened, no drawing took place, and the State Department has announced no registration dates for DV-2027 or DV-2028. Which countries will be eligible will be known only when official instructions for a future cycle are published — and anyone claiming registration is open now, or charging any fee today, is running a scam. Watch only travel.state.gov and dvprogram.state.gov. Full details: DV Lottery section.

Start with our Benefits section — it links straight to the official NY application pages for SNAP, Medicaid, HEAP, childcare help and more, and explains what each program is. Eligibility depends on your income, household and immigration status; if you're unsure, ask a volunteer to sit with you or visit your county social services office — help is free.

See Food Banks & Free Diapers for pantries in our cities, including ones that stock familiar African ingredients. In an emergency, call 211 (free, 24/7) for the nearest help.

Use Request a Service — housing, rides, interpretation, a welcome visit. A coordinator in your city follows up. For urgent safety issues, always call 911 first.

Yes — the whole site. Use the language bar at the top to switch into English, Français, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba or Lingala, and request an interpreter in any of our six languages for appointments. Article 1 of the DRC Constitution names all four national languages — we honor that here.

The Learning Hub has English lessons, GED prep, citizenship test practice with mock interviews, and NY driving permit practice — plus computer basics, job-ready courses and heritage language classes for kids, all free on this site.

If you're a citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible noncitizen (including granted refugees and asylees), yes — and New York adds TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship on top. Undocumented students have a separate NY path. See the FAFSA & NY Aid section and file only at studentaid.gov.

The Jobs section links to the official job sites (NY Job Bank, StateJobsNY, USAJOBS) and hosts our community job board, where employers and members post openings. Never pay for a job offer, and verify an employer before sharing documents.

Yes — use the “Post a service / Market my business” tab in the Service Exchange. Your listing appears on the community board right away, in the marketplace where members actually shop.

Yes — the free CV / Resume Builder walks you step by step, shows a live preview in three styles, and explains how to present experience from Congo. Everything stays in your browser; nothing is uploaded.

Compare total cost (fee + exchange rate) across providers on the day you send — rates change. Our Remittance Guide explains what to check and how to avoid scams. Never send money to someone who contacted you first with an “investment.”

See Community Events for dates and RSVP — RSVP drafts an email and every event offers a calendar file. Online group meetings (town halls, conversation practice, circles) run through the Community Meetings page on free video — no account needed.

Through the volunteer form — driving, translating, cooking, mentoring, setup. Two hours a month keeps this whole thing standing, and roles are matched to your city and languages.

Yes — every member profile has a Message button that composes an email to that member today. Instant in-app messaging arrives with member accounts on the live site; the design preview is in the Messages section.

To the work you can see: welcome support, the emergency mutual-aid fund, events, and family fundraisers — each fundraiser page shows its goal and progress. See Donate and Fundraisers. On this concept site no real payments are taken; giving happens on the live organization channels.

Go to Community Fundraisers and submit the family's situation and goal. Fundraisers are reviewed before posting — that protects donors and families alike. Never send money to a personal account for an unverified appeal.

Every child has the right to free public school, whatever your status. Our School Enrollment guide lists what to bring, the vaccinations needed, and how to ask for an interpreter and ESL support — it's your right, and it's free.

Each upstate city has a bus system, and most offer paratransit for medical trips. The Transit guide covers Centro, RTS, NFTA, CDTA and the others, and volunteers can help plan a first trip to an appointment.

Call 911 for fire, medical or safety emergencies — interpreters are available on the call. For urgent community help after that, see Emergency Help. For domestic violence support, the DV resources page is designed to be safe to open, with a quick-exit button.

Call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — any time, free and confidential, with support in English and Spanish and interpretation for other languages. You can also text HOME to 741741. You may call for a loved one, too. Seeking help is strength, not shame — see You Are Not Alone for how our community supports each other.

Start with Health in Your Language — clinics in our cities, how Medicaid works, and how to request a free interpreter at any medical appointment. You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.