Refugees build an American life

Bwiseze Bahane's family resettled in Charlottesville from Tanzania with the IRC's help. They are originally from the Democratic of Congo.

NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, Virginia, has launched a decade-long project looking at the evolution of three refugee families as they build their American life. The families -- the Bwisezes from Tanzania, the al Malhams from Iraq, and the Bhandaris from Nepal -- were all resettled by the International Rescue Committee.

The first story in the series also features an interview with Harriet Kuhr, director of the IRC's Charlottesville US Programs Office. "We are like your quick-start guide to starting your life in America," Harriet says of the IRC's work in the U.S.

You can watch the first video here and read the story here.