International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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IRC Peacemakers

The IRC Peacemakers Program 

  • develops public speaking and leadership skills in refugee and immigrant youth
  • provides opportunities for youth to share their personal stories through speaking engagements
  • fosters multi-cultural understanding and raises awareness of issues affecting refugees and immigrants

  

Meet Madina

Madina, a refugee from Somalia, was raised in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.  When she was 13 years old, she and her mom were resettled in San Diego.  In high school, Madina was a regular attendee of IRC Youth Programs, staying after school  everyday to participate in ESL classes, homework tutoring, and enrichment activities. 

In 2009, Madina and a small group of her peers founded the IRC Peacemakers program with the mission of raising awareness of the refugee experience by sharing their personal stories with the wider San Diego community.  After receiving in depth public speaking training and skill development, Madina has grown into an accomplished and in-demand speaker.  She has spoken to many high schools, universities, and community groups including SDSU, USD, UCSD, Warwick’s bookstore, PCI’s Walk for Water, and World Refugee Day at MoPA, sharing her story with over 5,000 people. 

Madina is currently a student at City College and continues to be a committed leader in the IRC Peacemakers program.

 
     

 

 

 IRC Peacemaker Achievements 

11 

Countries represented by IRC Peacemaker members
15  Languages spoken by IRC Peacemaker members
65  Presentations made by IRC Peacemaker members
7,000 People who have heard IRC Peacemakers presentations

 

 

 

 

 


Peacemakers make an impression

 “It was an inspiring and engaging event: the students sharing their experiences gave us such a poignant sense of what it means to be a refugee, and they did so with such charm and good-humor.”      – Primo Vannicelli, Outreach Chair for UNA-SD (Refugee Roundtable, December 2010)

My Life as a Refugee   Article by Kira Elliott, a student who saw the Peacemakers speak at Worldlink.  

Contact Us

To learn more about the IRC Peacemakers Program or inquire about a speaking engagement, please contact  Caroly.Smyth@Rescue.org   or +1 619 641 7510 x256.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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