Junior League of San Francisco promotes refugee youth creativity

On April 29^th, 2012, volunteers from the Junior League of San Francisco (JLSF) Provisional Committee organized an event to benefit families resettled by the IRC. Over twenty refugees from Burma, Bhutan and Somalia were greeted by the women of JLSF with a fun day of arts and crafts. Refugee children and parents together were able to spend the day getting to know other refugee families, spending time with IRC family mentors and volunteers, and writing and illustrating their own story books! Many thanks to Alexis Khier and Jen Kremen, the 2012 co-chairs of the Provisional Committee, and all the JLSF women for creating such a special day for the families. 

JLSF has partnered with IRC for the past six years, including an annual grant to support IRC’s Early Employment Program, and a group of JLSF mentors that work with refugee families throughout the year providing basic ESL, help with homework, assist in grocery shopping, teaching clients how to use public transportation, and general acculturation to their community. JLSF also provided IRC with large in-kind donations of household goods, toys, and other items to benefit our newly arrived refugee families.

IRC is incredibly grateful for the important services JLSF offer to our refugees and look forward to a continued partnership!

Photo by JLSF