Elizabeth, Hawa, and Safaa
Thanks to the IRC, I now attend UC Berkeley
Elizabeth spent her childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp, arriving at age one and leaving at fifteen to come to San Diego with her family.
Eager to do well in school, her teacher referred her to the IRC Students Plus After School Program on her first day of high school. Elizabeth attended the program that very day and then continued to attend for the next four years. The Students Plus program assists high school students with English and homework while also providing a sense of belonging through social activities, art, and sports.
Elizabeth took advantage of IRC’s support every day after school and she recently graduated as valedictorian of her class. She now attends UC Berkeley.
Click on the photo to view a short video about Elizabeth.
Learn more about IRC's Youth Programs: http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-san-diego-ca/youth-programs
Photo: Elizabeth at graduation. Amberley Middleton/The IRC
The IRC helps me to support my family through farming
The IRC New Roots Community Farm opened in 2009 on a 2.3 acre lot near the IRC office. Eighty families immediately began growing produce for their families.
In January 2011, the New Roots Community Farm became certified to sell at farmers’ markets. Now, refugee farmers bring their produce to the City Heights Farmers’ Market each Saturday to turn their produce into dollars. Some New Roots sellers make as much as $150 per week, greatly adding to their household budgets.
Click on the photo to view a short video about IRC's agriculture programs.
Learn more about the IRC New Roots Community Farm: http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-san-diego-ca/new-roots
Photo: Hawa makes a sale. Sharon Kennedy/The IRC
The IRC helped me to start my own restaurant
Safaa is a refugee from Iraq who arrived in San Diego in 2009. As a former businessman in Iraq, he saw that starting his own business here was a way to quickly get ahead.
With the support of the IRC Microenterprise Program, Safaa opened his own restaurant in May of this year. Sammoon Bakery and Restaurant is in downtown El Cajon and is already famous for its signature traditional Iraqi Sammoon bread. Safaa has hired 8 employees and is on his way to having a thriving business.
Click on the photo to view a video about Safaa and his new restaurant.
Learn more about the IRC Microenterprise Program: http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-san-diego-ca/microenterprise
Photo: Safaa at Sammoon. Sharon Kennedy/The IRC
Please consider making a financial contribution to support our critical work in San Diego.
Your support of the IRC helps refugees in San Diego to thrive and become self-reliant and productive members of our community. All funds raised through this campaign will benefit the IRC in San Diego.
Opportunity for your donation to be matched
Through December 31, special friends of the IRC will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $1.5 million if you donate online at https://www.rescue.org/donate/donate-now-san-diego. In this way, your donation to the IRC in San Diego will unlock matching funds that support the IRC’s work with refugees worldwide.
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