This World Refugee Day, the IRC honored refugee changemakers, highlighting the remarkable – and everyday – ways that refugees influence art, food, ideas, policy and culture. The IRC in Silver Spring spoke with Su, a 14-year-old refugee from Myanmar resettled by the IRC, about her commitment to advocating for human rights in her home country.

The IRC in Wichita is committed to bringing our beneficiaries from harm to home. As part of that commitment, we provide the necessities they will need to start rebuilding their lives here in Wichita. To do this, the IRC relies on donated items from community partners that are passed into the hands of our clients free of charge as part of an initial household setup. We have a number of new arrivals scheduled to resettle in Wichita in August and are in dire need of the household items.

Nabil fled Syria with his parents, brother and two sisters when the war intensified in their home city of Homs. They struggled for four years in neighboring Jordan before being given the opportunity to resettle in the United States in September 2015. Read about Nabil's transition to a new home and community.

Refugees bring stories of resilience and strength to their resettled country and so much more than they can carry: hopes and dreams, experiences and talents, traditions and heritage. Amira Kherrallah, originally from the Central African Republic, brought all of this with her to the U.S. after she was forced to flee her home. Read about how she overcame obstacles through her passion to serve her community.

In June, the IRC in Atlanta’s Community Health Response Manager, Dr. Omar Aziz, was invited to present at the annual North American Refugee Health Conference (NARHC), held in Cleveland, Ohio. The NARHC is recognized as the preeminent conference destination for healthcare and resettlement professionals working with refugee populations, with approximately 700 attendees from across the continent.

Olga Ngalula was a financial officer and local seamstress in the Democratic Republic of Congo before being forced to flee her country. Olga and her family were resettled in the United States in August of 2015 and began rebuilding their lives in the greater Atlanta area.

Many Afghan female-identifying women* arrived in New York City with their education and economic goals as part of their resettling journey. This past year in 2022, the IRC in NY’s Education & Learning (E&L) team designed a program for Afghan women.

Sediqullah and his brother, Ahmad, are two of the many Afghan individuals new to Salt Lake City, resettled to Utah with support from the IRC in Salt Lake City. Sediqulla shares his story and his hopes for the future.

Sammiah Ebadi has been volunteering with the IRC in Denver office for 6 months. An immigrant herself, Sammiah has found meaning and pride in helping others who have resettled in the United States.

In 2023, the IRC in Los Angeles helped resettle 578 refugee families, and we anticipate this number to increase in the new year. We need your support to continue to give refugees the warm welcome and help they deserve. Learn more about the various ways you can get involved below.