Refugee Connect

Inspiration

Tahsin, a 22-year-old Rohingya refugee, fled Myanmar with his family, leaving behind everything he knew. Displaced and isolated, he struggled to access education but refused to give up. With sheer determination, Tahsin taught himself programming using borrowed devices and free online resources. Over time, he became a skilled developer and began mentoring others in his community, proving that technology could transform lives. Inspired by Tahsin’s journey, Refugee Connect was created to empower refugees worldwide. The platform offers three core tools: Translation Tool: Breaks language barriers with real-time AI-powered translation. AI Chat Assistant: Provides 24/7 guidance on asylum processes, jobs, and local resources. Job Search Engine: Matches refugees with employers based on skills and preferences.

Built with cutting-edge technologies like Next.js, OpenAI, and Gemini AI, Refugee Connect is a lifeline for refugees, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

How We Built It

Tech Stack:
| Layer | Next.js Implementation |
|---------------------|----------------------------------|
| Frontend | App Router, React Server Components, Shadcn UI |
| APIs | Route Handlers (/api/translate, /api/chat) |
| AI Integration | Open AI API, Gemini AI |
| Data | Vercel postgress |

Key Code Implementation:

Real-time translation API
export async function POST(req: Request) { const { text } = await req.json(); const translated = await tarjimly.translate(text); return NextResponse.json({ translated }); }

Part 1: Key Functionalities

Translation Tool:
- Multilingual text translation for breaking language barriers.
- Real-time translation powered by OpenAI or Google Translate API.
- Support for key languages spoken by refugees (e.g., Arabic, English, French).
ChatGPT Assistance:
- AI-powered chatbot for answering refugee-specific queries.
- Provides legal, healthcare, and educational information.
- Context-aware responses tailored to refugee needs.
Job Search Platform:
- Job listings with filtering by location, type (full-time, part-time, contract).
- Recommendations based on skills and preferences.
- Integration with AI for resume matching and job suggestions.

Part 2: Tech Stack

Frontend:
- Next.js: Fast rendering and routing.
- Tailwind CSS: Responsive and modern UI design.
- React: Component-based architecture.
Backend:
- Node.js: Server-side logic.
- Prisma ORM: Database interaction (PostgreSQL or MongoDB).
- Next.js API Routes: For serverless functions.
AI Integration:
- OpenAI API: ChatGPT and translation services.
- Google Translate API: Alternative translation tool.
- Vercel AI SDK: Streaming responses for real-time chat.

Part 3: Implementation Phases

Phase 1: Core Features
- Build translation tool with OpenAI/Google Translate API.
- Develop ChatGPT-powered chatbot with refugee-specific prompts.
Phase 2: Job Search Platform
- Create job posting and search functionalities.
- Implement AI-powered job recommendations.
Phase 3: Optimization & Deployment
- Optimize performance (SSR/ISR in Next.js).
- Deploy on Vercel for scalability.

Challenges

CORS Configuration: Solving Next.js cross-origin issues in next.config.js
Arabic RTL Support: Implementing direction: rtl CSS logic without breaking layouts
Offline-First: Overcoming Next.js hydration issues with local storage caching