Menstrual Disposal, Waste Management, & Laundering in Emergencies

Right now, more than ever, it feels as if everyone in the world could use a hug from their mother, grandmother, or someone else who feels like a mother to them. This Mother’s Day we got the chance to celebrate these women who mean so much to us all, including the many refugee mothers who inspire us daily.

The IRC is thrilled to welcome Tara Rangarajan who comes from a career with the United Nations, where she has been a leader in improving working conditions and helping to lift millions of workers, mostly women and often migrants, out of poverty and into self-sustaining livelihoods. Prior to joining the UN, Tara spent ten years working for Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) as a senior advisor to large multinational companies across sectors on how to be a positive force for social change.

The IRC in Atlanta, in partnership with Refugee Women’s Network, the Latin American Association, and the Somali American Community Center, has received an $800,000 award from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help small business owners from Georgia's diverse communities rebuild resilient, thriving companies.

On Friday, June 23, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Associate Administrator, Mark Madrid, visited the IRC in Atlanta to celebrate the success of the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP)—a two-year collaboration between the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta, Refugee Women’s Network (RWN), the Latin American Association (LAA), and the Somali American Community Center (SACC)—in honor of World Refugee Day.

Each year, tens of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution resettle in the United States, including the Bay Area. Resettlement means a fresh start and opportunity, especially for adolescent girls whose futures had been limited by a lack of access to education and opportunities and restrictive ideas about  women. Here. these girls have the chance to improve themselves, their families, and their communities. The Vision Project aims to empower refugee girls and change perceptions within their communities by providing girls with the skills and support they need to envision a positive future, and ultimately achieve their goals. The project runs three week-long workshops each year with resettled refugee girls, and each week culminates in a personal photoshoot for each girl where they embody their future selves.