Our 6,000 person staff—99 percent of them Afghans themselves—are working across 12 provinces to deliver programs in education, health and nutrition, women’s protection and empowerment, and more.

This World Refugee Day, we are reaching back in history and taking inspiration from seven extraordinary individuals, among many over the years, who have stood with refugees. They have shown that progress is possible, even when the odds can feel too great to overcome.

Community Sponsorship is a new program at the IRC in Salt Lake City! This program gives the community a chance to be involved with the resettlement process in a hands-on way. We sat down with Kristi Haycock, Community Sponsorship Manager, about what is involved in community sponsorship, and how people can get started!

Mahsa, a young, bright, and promising student, had recently completed her high school education in Afghanistan and was eagerly pursuing her academic aspirations at a public university. During the Utah legislative session, she used her voice and her story to help pass a bill that enabled refugees to obtain in-state tuition rates at Utah universities.

“The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is look at the mirror in my bedroom and say, 'let's go hero, your day has started.'”