Two Youth Counselors Join the IRC Team

Two Youth Counselors, Jennifer Rickard and Munir Winkel, recently joined the IRC in Atlanta’s Youth Futures academic program. They work at off-site program locations at Druid Hills High School and Clarkston High School, and both are eager to put their experience and passion for refugee youth to work.

Photo by: Duncan de la Feld

Jennifer comes to the IRC from Refugee Family Services where she ran the Family Literacy Program as an AmeriCorps Volunteer.  Her schedule allowed for time to volunteer with the IRC’s Youth Futures Program, making her a wonderful asset to the Youth Futures staff.  For Jennifer, the purpose of her work is to instill confidence in all refugee youth participants. “We give them total help,” she says, “Which they can't always get in class.” Jennifer looks forward to exposing the youth to American arts and culture in fieldtrips around Atlanta.

Although this is his first year as a Youth Counselor, Munir has been with the IRC in Atlanta since 2007.  He began by organizing a clothing drive for the IRC at his high school, and was most recently an intern working with the Youth Futures program. Munir said it was the IRC mission was the first thing that attracted him to the organization. “The IRC gives people the chance to build a new life, and we help [the youth] gain a perspective on American society.”

Both Munir and Jennifer are excited to work with this year's Youth Futures participants. Jennifer hopes to bring experts with interesting skills to expose her youth to such topics as yoga and art therapy. Munir is not only excited to teach his students, but also to learn from them as well. “They have so much talent, and so many assets that they may not realize,” he says. “It's going to be a great year.”

For more information about the Youth Futures program, please email Atlanta@rescue.org or call 404-292-7731.