ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
UNDER 18

Project Management Plan of Non-profit Organization

Authors: Fedor Artamonov, Angelina
Kharts, Sofiya Pravdina, Roman
Maximov, Nurbatyr Kenzhekhan

Annotation:
Illegal immigrants under 18, who are
crossing the line between Mexico and USA,
is a major problem, leading to the economic,
social and environmental unsustainability.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Charter ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2

Scope ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

1. Preparation and planning: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2

2. Search and positioning of site: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

3. Program development: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2

4. Recruitment: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

5. Therapeutic activities: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

6. Security and privacy: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

7. Advertising and promotion: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

8. Protection by law ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Viability of the project proposals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

The project’s expected results: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4

Stakeholders ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Communication plan …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

1 Stage ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

2 Stage ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

3 Stage (Media Channels): ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Matrix responsibilities ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

WBS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

1. Initiation Phase: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

2. Planning Phase: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

3. Execution Phase: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

4. Monitoring and Controlling Phase: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

5. Closure Phase: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Time duration ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

Resources proposals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

Budget proposals ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

Sensitive activities and risks …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Risk assessment scenarios ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

1. Staff and Volunteers burnouts: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8

2. Risk of negative attitude from the public: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

3. Risk of losing the fundings: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

4. Summary: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Gantt Chart of the project ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Refferences: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Appendix: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10

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Charter

Scope

1. Preparation and planning:
1.1. Development of a detailed action plan for project realization.
1.2. Determination of personnel and resource requirements.
1.3. Setting the budget for project.

2. Search and positioning of site:
2.1. Marketing research to determine the perfect location of the center.
2.2. Finding suitable building for therapy sessions and group classes.
2.3. Organizing viewings of property and signing a lease agreement.
2.4. Providing necessary furniture and equipment for a safe environment.

3. Program development:
3.1. Creation of individual therapeutic programs for each child.
3.2. Development of group classes and thematic programs.
3.3. Planning cultural and creative events.

4. Recruitment:
4.1. Preparing job advertisements for psychologists and other specialists.
4.2. Doing interviews with candidates for vacancies.
4.3. Hiring qualified psychologists and other necessary personnel.

5. Therapeutic activities:
5.1. Individual therapy:
5.1.1. Conducting individual sessions with each child by qualified psychologists.
5.1.2. Providing a safe and confidential environment for working with children.
5.1.3. Helping children overcome trauma and develop coping skills.
5.1.4. Increasing self respect in children.
5.2. Group classes:
5.2.1. Organizing group therapy for children.
5.2.2. Create a sense of community and support among participants in group
activities.
5.2.3. Supporting the exchange of experiences between children in similar
situations.
5.2.4. Developing communication and collaboration skills through group activities.
5.3. Creative methods:
5.3.1. Using art, music and play as tools for children to express themselves.
5.3.2. Helping children process emotions and develop social flexibility through
creative methods.
5.4. Cultural support:
5.4.1. Respect and understanding of each child’s cultural heritage.
5.4.2. Creating a trusting and supportive environment based on cultural respect for
children.

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6. Security and privacy:
6.1. Implementation of a system for protecting data and confidential information
about children.
6.2. Training staff on confidentiality rules and ethics in working with clients.
6.3. Creation of procedures to ensure the safety of children in the center.

7. Advertising and promotion:
7.1. Development of advertising strategy and creation of marketing materials.
7.2. Information campaigns to attract customers.
7.3. Interaction with local organizations and institutions to popularize the project.

8. Protection by law
8.1. Developing a plan for strategic cooperation with a company providing pro-bono
lawyers
8.2. Interview with bilingual lawyers
8.3. Agreement on two sides cooperation for lectures
8.4. Agreement on two sides cooperation for the protection in court of children
facing violations of their rights

Viability of the project proposals

Since 2021, lots of kids have been coming to the US by themselves, with nearly
400,000 crossing the southern border, mostly to escape extreme poverty. (New
York Times report, 2023). Many of them find themselves in situations of exploitation
and blaming without the necessary support. There is a strong humanitarian need
of project to be done and completed due to these statistics. For example, the
International Organization for Migration concludes that over 70,000 minors were
arrested in the United States in 2019. (UNICEF, 2020) Provided with basic services
such as food, health care, education and legal support is essential for their
protection and well-being.

(New York Times, 2023)

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Immigrant families are less likely to have cultural knowledge about school
assignment and school choice. These systems can be difficult to understand for
people born into them, much less for a family new to the country. Neighborhood
segregation often forces immigrant families to use lower quality segregated
schools. The migration-related factors that most negatively impacted children’s
mental health were experiences such as discrimination, loss of access to
governmental and educational resources, premigration trauma, loss of community,
cultural distance and acculturation, the burden on the family unit

The project point is to make sure regulations are followed with United States
immigration laws. Under the law, immigrant minors have the right of protection and
assistance despite of their immigration status. Collaboration with the pro-bono
lawyers organization could help in that.

Talking about the social impact, Immigrant minors are often victims of exploitation
and violence, and their rights may be violated due to their status. For example,
according to a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of
psychological trauma and stress among immigrant minors n the United States are
higher than of the general population.(CDC, 2022) The project aims to improve
their psychological well-being and successfull integration into society.

(New York Times, 2023)

The project’s expected results:

Our goal is not just to help children deal with current difficulties, but also to build
the foundation for their long-term mental well-being and success.

Improved mental health: Reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
Increasing self-respect: Developing self-respect, self-confidence and positive
self-perception.
Developing Social Skills: Improves communication, collaboration and healthy
relationship skills.
Creating flexibility: Developing skills to deal with difficulties, adapt to new
conditions and achieve goals.

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Psychological support for immigrant children is not just a humanitarian task, but
also an investment in the future of the country.
By calling for support for this project, we are taking a step in creating a fairer and
more empathetic society where every child, despite of their background, has the
chance to live a happy and healthy life.

Stakeholders

Minor illegal immigrants are the target of the project’s assistance.
-Local rights organizations
-Government agencies
-Local communities and residents where migrants themselves can be directly
involved in supporting and helping each other
-Legal experts and lawyers to provide necessarial protection and rights
acknowledge
-Financial institutions and sponsors
-Media and community organizations to highlight and spread the issue among
residents

Communication plan

1 Stage

At first, we need to identify target audience. The specific areas of participants,
members and stakeholders:

• Immigrant children (under 18 years old)
• Parents or guardians of immigrant children
• Social workers
• Mental health professionals
• Volunteers
• Community organisations supporting immigrants
• schools and educational institutions

2 Stage

Our second step is setting the communication objectives. The main core
objective is to raise awareness of the social group and its benefits

What is important as well:

• Inform parents and guardians about the availability of psychological
support for their children

• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the efficient delivery of supporting
services

• Provide the feedback

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3 Stage (Media Channels):

As the communication channels we selected:

1. Posters in schools, medical centres, and other governmental structures.
2. Billboards across the target states where the non-profit organization would

take place.
3. Social media platforms.
4. Email-news updates for stakeholders
5. Website with achievements, feedback, and donation option.

Matrix responsibilities

WBS

1. Initiation Phase:
1.1 Define objectives and scope
1.2 Identify stakeholders

2. Planning Phase:
2.1 Develop communication plan
2.2 Create messaging and materials
2.3 Select communication channels

3. Execution Phase:
3.1 Conduct information sessions for parents and guardians
3.2 Distribute flyers and posters
3.3 Post updates on social media platforms
3.4 Send out newsletters via email
3.5 Recruit and train volunteers

4. Monitoring and Controlling Phase:
4.1 Collect feedback from stakeholders
4.2 Monitor engagement metrics
4.3 Review and update communication plan if needed

5. Closure Phase:
5.1 Evaluate effectiveness of communication efforts
5.2 Document lessons learned
5.3 Close out communication activities

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Time duration

Given the scale of this project, it is worth allocating a large amount of time for
implementation so that all aspects are taken into account and work properly. It is
worth remembering such factors as finding sponsors, logistics, regulation of legal
and administrative norms, and the possibility of providing medical and
psychological assistance. Each stage will take quite a lot of time, since there are
extensive tasks everywhere. Starting with the search for volunteers, raising
awareness of others about the project, finding sponsors already requires a decent
amount of time and resources, and if we consider the search for numerous points
for renting space that will be used by humanitarian aid centers, as well as the hiring
and training of specialists, then at best the project can be launched in about one
year. To do this, it is important to follow a strategy and actively find sponsors. With
a project of this magnitude, communication is extremely important, both externally
and within the team. It’s worth developing a GANNT chart and following it

Resources proposals

Once the date for completing preparations for the launch of the project has been
set, it is necessary to calculate the resources that will be required to launch it. It is
worth identifying priority tasks such as renting premises and paying for
psychologists and not sparing money in these areas, and relegating other costs to
the background.

To implement the project, it is worth considering the following costs:
– average cost of renting premises in Texas, California, Arizona
– Marketing campaign costs
– Purchase of furniture for premises
– Hiring human rights lawyers
– Establishment of wages for hired psychologists
– cost of utilities
– providing children with basic human needs (water, food, clothing)
– cost of providing medical services
– food costs for volunteer

Project management must be carried out extremely vigilantly, without going beyond
the rules and limits, but distributing all funds by priority. In addition to attracting
sponsors, a charity fund should be opened where ordinary citizens can make
donations

Budget proposals

Часть Софии

Sensitive activities and risks

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Regarding sensitive activities, the development and implementation of
psychological support programs aimed to the needs of immigrant minors, including
counseling, therapy and trauma-informed care is the main goal of our organization.
Training of staff and volunteers to provide culturally sensitive and effective
psychological support to immigrant minors is also very important. Moreover,
developing programs and activities is a crucial part of the project, because it is
mainly the only thing that contributes to the social integration of immigrant minors
into new communities. Collaboration with legal experts or pro bono attorneys
(agencies who are providing professional assistance to charitable non-profit
organizations on a non-refunduble basis) to ensure proper legal representation and
assistance to immigrant minors. Furthermore, a very important field, related to the
previous activity, is providing advices on immigration laws and procedures to
enforce and protect immigrant minors, which is paramaunt in order to help
individuals under 18 become integrated.

However, supporting and protecting immigrant minors in the United States leads to
variety of risks and challenges. One of the primary obstacles in securing adequate
funding and resources for support programs, which are often stretched thin, leading
to gaps in service delivery and reduced effectiveness over time. Additionally,
addressing the mental health needs of immigrant minors presents a significant
challenge, with barriers such as stigma, cultural differences, and limited access to
resources hindering efforts to provide comprehensive psychological support.
Furthermore, building trust and collaboration with immigrant communities,
stakeholders, and partner organizations is essential but often fraught with
difficulties. Negotiating diverse perspectives and interests requires delicate
navigation to ensure effective cooperation and support for the project’s objectives.
Moreover, the ever-changing landscape of immigration policies and political
priorities adds another layer of uncertainty, impacting advocacy efforts and the
broader socio-political context within which support programs operate.

PERT and CPM of the project

Risk assessment scenarios

In order to implement this project into 3 target states of USA, the certain risk
scenarios must be analyzed. There are many of them, but only 3 most important:

1. Staff and Volunteers burnouts:

Scenario: Overworked staff and volunteers experience burnout, impacting the
quality of services provided.

Risk Mitigation: Implementing workload management strategies, such as regular
breaks, rotating responsibilities, and providing emotional support resources.

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Offering training and development opportunities to enhance skills and prevent
stagnation.

2. Risk of negative attitude from the public:

Scenario: A lot of US citizens have a negative attitude to the illegal immigrants from
Mexica. The evidence is during Donald Trump was on a presidential post the huge
wall between Mexico and US was built.

Risk Mitigation: Foster partnerships between local organizations, businesses, and
schools to support Mexican immigrants and promote integration. Collaborate on
initiatives that address shared challenges and promote mutual respect and
understanding.

3. Risk of losing the fundings:

Scenario: Fluctuating funding sources or unexpected expenses impact the
organization’s ability to provide services.

Risk Mitigation: Diversification of funding sources, creating a financial reserve for
emergencies, and strict budget monitoring. Seeking long-term partnerships with
donors or grant providers to ensure stable funding.

4. Summary:

The implementation of a project aimed at fostering love and understanding of
Mexican immigrants and assisting them in adaptation in three target states in the
United States requires mitigation of major risks. With regard to staff and volunteer
burnout, this must be addressed through workload management strategies and
emotional support resources. Turning to another challenge, negative societal
attitudes toward immigrants require the development of partnerships and
collaboration to promote integration and mutual respect. As regards finance field
of the project, diversifying funding sources, building financial reserves, and seeking
long-term partnerships with donors are critical to mitigate the risk of loss of funding.
By anticipating these risks, the project can increase its impact and sustainability in
promoting acceptance, adaptation and inclusiveness towards Mexican immigrants.

Gantt Chart of the project

Картинка, делаем с Софией

Refferences:

Migration, country by country, at the U.S.-Mexico border

https://www.preventionweb.net/files/26422_guidancemethodologynationalsafetyan.p
df

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https://www.isaca.org/resources/news-and-trends/newsletters/atisaca/2021/volume-
31/how-to-write-strong-risk-scenarios-and-statements

Appendix: