IRC Los Angeles' Employment Program Boasts Latest Participant Successes

Within a month of enrolling in the Matching Grant Early Employment Program, two of our participants found themselves on the road to self-sufficiency, by securing part-time employment. One of them has since upgraded to full-time employment.
 
“I am thrilled and happy to see our participants thriving,” said IRC Employment Specialist, Luisa Gavoutian. “They have set a good example for other participants.”
 
IRC’s Matching Grant Early Employment Program is a federal program focused on securing self-supporting employment for refugees within four months of arrival in the U.S. IRC provides refugee participants with basics such as job readiness training, assistance with resumes and job applications, case management, bus passes, as well as monetary assistance and ongoing support and follow-up. Refugees enrolled in the program are matched with a volunteer job mentor, whose purpose is to assist our refugees hone these basic, job readiness skills.
 
“Our mentors put in a lot of time and hard work to get these participants more actively involved in the program,” said Luisa. “They’ve done a great job preparing them [participants] for the American workforce, and they continue to work with them, even after these participants are employed.”
 
Job mentors are instrumental in the success of our refugees. If you are interested in mentoring a refugee, contact our volunteer coordinator at VolunteerLA@theIRC.org