Each year, World Refugee Day is celebrated around the globe: uplifting refugee voices, highlighting their contributions, and raising advocacy needs. This year, the IRC Atlanta hosted our second World Refugee Day Trivia Night welcoming volunteers, corporate partners, staff, and community supporters to share a bite and put their knowledge to the test.  
 

Trivia team giving smiles and thumbs up mid-trivia-round
Trivia team enjoying their winning streak!

 

Our themes this year included the rising trends in global displacement, international food and culture, and the benefits that refugees and immigrants have on the economy. Following a competitive round of trivia questions, Director of Resettlement Programs, Dr. Omar Aziz, led an informative Q&A session alongside managing attorney Asiyah Sarwari, covering pressing needs and current challenges faced by IRC clients across programs. 

Dr. Omar Aziz and Managing Attorney Asiyah Sarwari respond to community inquiries
IRC Atlanta's Dr. Omar Aziz and Managing Attorney Asiyah Sarwari respond to community inquiries
Photo: Heloise Ahoure

 

We learned the sobering fact that there are over 122 million displaced people around the world, a new record. Of that number, 73% originate from just 5 countries: Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Sudan. In spite of the tough path that preceded them, refugees contributed $123.8 billion net-positive to the United States economy between 2005-2019.  

Table of 4 individuals reflecting on trivia answers
Trivia team reflects on refugee facts
Photo: Heloise Ahoure

Guests enjoyed a spread of chicken and beef shawarma, falafel, Greek salad, served with Lebanese toum and tahini. We would like to give a special thanks to immigrant-owned Mediterranean Bakery for catering this event!  

To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Director, Heloise Ahoure, at Heloise.Ahoure@rescue.org or (404) 292-7731.   

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