About us
We started by listening.
Same Skies was founded in 2014 by Brad, Julia and Laura, who met while working with people affected by displacement in Nauru.
Our experience there - and the relationships we built with people who had been displaced - made us question some of the assumptions underlying traditional humanitarian work. We saw how much knowledge, leadership and initiative existed within refugee communities, and how often those strengths were overlooked.
When refugee families in Indonesia later reached out to ask for support, we listened to what they wanted to build and worked alongside them to make it happen.
That experience shaped Same Skies.
From one community to a wider movement
What started with a small group of refugee families has grown into a network of refugee-led organisations, leaders, partners and supporters across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Over the years, our work has evolved in response to what we have learned from our partners. We have supported refugee-led projects, developed leadership programmes, provided organisational support, connected people and resources, and built long-term partnerships.
The common thread has always been the same: listen first, build relationships, and respond to what our partners tell us they need.
Who we are today
Same Skies is a non-religious organisation working with refugee-led organisations and communities.
We are a multidisciplinary and multicultural team with experience across humanitarian work, leadership development, organisational strengthening, partnerships and community-led action.
Our team is intentionally small. We work through relationships and partnerships rather than trying to do everything ourselves.
Where we are
Same Skies is registered in Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, with team members and partners working across different countries and contexts.
Our work has its roots in Southeast Asia, where we have built long-term relationships with refugee-led organisations and communities. We are globally connected, but locally led.
The people who make Same Skies
Same Skies is not just the people on our team.
Our work is made possible by the refugee leaders, organisations, partners, mentors, funders, supporters and communities who have shaped the organisation with us.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped Same Skies become what it is today—and to those who continue to challenge us to listen, learn and do better.
The challenge
Many asylum seekers and refugees hope to be resettled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, as displacement continues to rise globally and resettlement opportunities remain limited, only a small proportion of refugees are able to access this pathway.
For those living in countries of asylum, the wait can stretch for years. During this time, many face the lasting effects of trauma, displacement, and family separation. Restrictions on the right to work, limited access to education, and legal and social barriers often make it difficult to build stable, self-reliant lives and fully participate in their communities.
Our mission
Same Skies supports refugee-led organisations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh by strengthening community-driven solutions that foster dignity, resilience, and self-reliance. We work in partnership with refugee communities facing prolonged displacement, uncertainty, and limited access to legal protection, education, and employment. By investing in refugee-led initiatives and local leadership, we help communities build sustainable futures and create opportunities for greater independence while they pursue durable solutions.
Your donation makes a lasting impact
With a core team of just 4 staff members and a dedicated network of 45 volunteers across 13 countries, your donation goes a long way. It directly supports our mission of Refugee-Led Action, enabling refugee communities to lead solutions for the challenges they face.
By investing in community-led initiatives, skills- and leadership development, we help create sustainable opportunities that generate lasting benefits for individuals, families, and entire communities.