There was a lot of stumbling and falling involved in the IRC’s Connect to Success (C2S) program this winter, but it’s not what you might think… Thanks to a generous donation from long-term IRC volunteer and supporter, Norman Slawsky, we were able to take 16 young adults enrolled in the C2S program for their first-ever ice-skating trip to The Cooler in Alpharetta!
Thanks to a generous donation from an IRC volunteer, we were able to take 16 C2S participants for their first-ever ice-skating trip to The Cooler in Alpharetta!
Launched in 2016, the IRC in Atlanta’s C2S program is one of the only programs in the United States dedicated exclusively to supporting out-of-school refugee youth ages 16-24. Young people enrolled in the program receive holistic support through one-on-one coaching and group classes to help them define, plan for and reach their education and career goals. C2S includes career readiness training and support in job seeking, as well as academic support, including assistance with enrolling in GED programs and applying to college. Our young people are pursuing careers as medical professionals, engineers, IT specialists, and skilled tradespeople.
Our C2S students work incredibly hard towards their goals and most are working to provide for themselves and their families at the same time as pursuing higher education and training. Field trips—like our trip to The Cooler—are an essential opportunity for these hard-working students to take a well-deserved break and enjoy some relaxation time with their peers. Although most students started out moving slowly and holding on to the walls, at the end of the day many were able to skate freely around the rink. It was a joyous day out, with a lot of falling, laughing, bonding and helping each other learn to overcome our fears.
Although most students started out moving slowly and holding on to the walls, at the end of the day many were able to skate freely around the rink.
223 young people have gone through C2S since its launch in 2016 with 96% of participants taking steps towards their long-term goals after one year of coaching. 25 C2S students are currently enrolled in college studying nursing, early-childhood education, engineering and pre-law.
It was a joyous day out, with a lot of falling, laughing, bonding and helping each other learn to overcome our fears.
The IRC in Atlanta’s C2S program is committed to providing more opportunities for participants to take a break from their busy routine of school and work and enjoy social time with their peers. To learn more about supporting the C2S program, please contact Connect to Success Program Coordinator, Sharita Khatiwada, at Sharita.Khatiwada [at] Rescue.org.
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 Manager, Kalie Lasiter, at Kalie.Lasiter [at] Rescue.org or 678-636-8941.
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