Announcement
Our Kickstart Pathway Scholars received their high school diplomas through a partnership between the IRC in Atlanta and Penn Foster High School’s independent-study, distance-education program.
On August 24, the IRC in Atlanta held a high school graduation ceremony to honor 20 hard-working students in our Connect 2 Success (C2S) program—one of the only programs in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to supporting out-of-school refugee youth ages 16 to 24 to pursue their education and career goals.
Our Kickstart Pathway Scholars received their high school diplomas through a partnership between the IRC in Atlanta and Penn Foster High School’s independent-study, distance-education program. Each student spent between five and seven months attending three classroom sessions per week, with a flexible schedule allowing the students—some of whom are parents—to continue working to support themselves and their families.
Generously hosted by our friends at the Clarkston Resource & Wellness Hub, students gathered with their friends, family members, and IRC staff to accept their diplomas and celebrate their momentous achievement. Unfortunately, interrupted education and “aging out” of the school system are frequent barriers faced by young adult refugees arriving in the U.S. seeking safety with their families.
The IRC in Atlanta would like to say a huge thank you to our generous partners at Sodexo who provided laptops for each of our Kickstart Scholars that allowed them to attend classes, complete coursework, and earn their diplomas, and will equip them as they continue to pursue higher education and career opportunities in the years to come. We’re so grateful for Sodexo’s ongoing support and commitment to this innovative program.
Please join us in congratulating the Kickstart Scholars Class of 2024:
Benafsha Dawlat (Honors)
Yasmin Guzman Laureano
Seema Hashimi (Salutatorian)
Nabila Hassan Zada (Honors)
Momtaz Hassani
Samira Hassani
Monzer Kanaan (Honors)
Ahmed Siyar Khadem (Honors)
Mohammad Omar Khadem
Aliyeh Mahbubi (Valedictorian)
Safiyeh Mahbubi (Salutatorian)
Zahra Mahbubi (Valedictorian)
Faramarz Sohrab (Honors)
Shokoufeh Sohrab (Honors)
Ahmad Sulaiman
Gidione Sumaili
Leteyesus Teklezghi
Hedayatullah Walizada (Valedictorian)
Addisalme Wubshet Beshah (Honors)
Marye Wubshet Beshah
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Director, Heloise Ahoure, at [email protected] or 678-636-8941.
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