The IRC in Missoula's VESL program helps the first cohort of participants to learn and improve English with the goal of opening doors for future employment opportunities.

After coming to Los Angeles in December, Taha Khshali has already found a job, his friends and his footing working with the IRC in LA’s early employment program.

One woman became a victim of human trafficking but has since rebuilt her life in the US with help from the IRC.

This month Haben, an Eritrean refugee who was resettled by the IRC to Missoula three years ago, tells us abut her experience. When she arrived she spoke only a handful of words in English, but now speaks well enough to be interviewed for this story without interpretation.

Modesto Junior College instructor Emma Berdino didn’t have much hope when she learned her ESL class would be forced to go online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   Many of her students, all women from Afghanistan recruited by the IRC in Turlock, were too tech-challenged to use a phone app to complete their homework prior to the viral outbreak.   “Most weren’t able to figure it out,” she said. “I thought, oh my goodness, we’re totally going to lose this class, because they’re not going to be able to do it.”  Berdino is grateful to be wrong, as nearly two-thirds of her students continue to take the course remotely after going exclusively online. 

Looking back on 2020, and forward to a healthy, hopeful new year.

We are excited to welcome David Oliver, our new deputy director! David brings leadership and expertise in program design from his tenure at the IRC in Atlanta. David's commitment to serving the community and his deep understanding of client-centered programs will enable us to continue our growth in supporting our resilient clients as they seek to heal and rebuild their lives.

Local volunteers and communities are critical to successful resettlement, even more so during COVID-19