In the news: Refugee youth in Seattle make connections through climbing

Photo: Hannah Letinich/IRC

“Climbing can be a really empowering activity. When you’re here as a refugee and you don’t speak the language fully, there can be a lot of things out of your control. I think climbing gives you back that control, that feeling of being capable.” --Curtis Tripp, climbing mentor

Newcomer teens are developing new skills, gaining confidence, and building social connections in the Climbing Higher StoneMasters program - a joint effort between the IRC in Seattle and our partners at Vertical Generation. Check out REI's feature of the program and learn about two brothers, originally from Myanmar, who have found a new community through climbing.