The City of Turlock aims to provide a warm welcome to new refugee arrivals. On Refugee Civics Day, refugee clients and interpreters of the IRC are invited to engage in conversation about the city's inner workings and practical skills like how to dial 9-1-1. Refugee families who have fled war and persecution are made to feel safe for the first time in many years are they arrive on U.S. soil. Refugees from Afghanistan and Syria participated in the activities at Turlock City Hall and reflected on how far they had come since their initial resettlement and what they hope to achieve with their new chance at life.

In honor of National Volunteer Week, we asked IRC volunteers why they donate their time and talents to welcome refugees to our community.

When Vivien Jacob came to the United States as a refugee through the IRC in 1990, little did she know she would one day end up serving as the Director for the IRC's Turlock/Modesto office. The following interview by community engagement outreach intern Perry Fishel takes a look at Vivien's nearly 20-year legacy with the IRC.

Learn more about the programs for U.S. allies in Afghanistan.

As one of the phenomenal women around the world who dedicate their lives to protecting people caught in conflict, Ifrah is on the front line of ending violence against women in Ethiopia.

Never before has the world witnessed such a dramatic scale of human suffering. Today, 65 million people—24 per minute—are displaced worldwide by conflict and persecution. Among them are more than 11 million Syrians uprooted by nearly six years of civil war in their country. In a year of unprecedented crisis, these are the ten most-read stories on Rescue.org.