Can empowering frontline staff help us foster more meaningful engagement with communities?

Living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​USA,​ ​particularly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​nation’s​ ​capital,​ ​provides​ ​endless​ ​opportunities​ ​to dedicate​ ​time​ ​and​ ​effort​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​refugee​ ​and​ ​asylee​ ​community.​ ​Over​ ​the​ ​summer,​ ​I​ ​was lucky​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​this​ ​work​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Asylee​ ​Casework​ ​Intern​ ​with​ ​the​ ​International Rescue​ ​Committee​ ​(IRC).​ ​Kind,​ ​genuine​ ​and​ ​dedicated​ ​doesn’t​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​the​ ​scratch​ ​the​ ​surface of​ ​the​ ​IRC​ ​staff​ ​in​ ​Silver​ ​Spring.​ ​I​ ​had​ ​the​ ​privilege​ ​of​ ​witnessing​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​part​ ​in​ ​clients’ transition​ ​to​ ​the​ ​USA,​ ​and​ ​because​ ​of​ ​this,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​provide​ ​testament​ ​to​ ​the​ ​time​ ​and​ ​effort​ ​that caseworkers​ ​commit​ ​to​ ​each​ ​and​ ​every​ ​client.

The war in Ukraine has drastically disrupted millions of lives, displacing people and creating unprecedented humanitarian needs. As of today, 12.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Since February 2022, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been working in Ukraine alongside local partners to deliver life-saving support to people affected by the war, helping them survive, recover, and regain control of their future.

Determined and fearless, Batula Ali has spent her life breaking gender norms in Kenya, while dedicating her time to saving lives.

Across 2022 and 2023, the IRC in Atlanta’s Immigration and Legal Services team, in partnership with the expert staff at Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN) and many generous and dedicated volunteers, hosted 12 pro se legal clinics to assist Afghan humanitarian parolees to apply for asylum and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

The IRC’s life-saving malnutrition treatment helps over 90% of children recover. But cuts to humanitarian aid from the United States are putting this life-saving work at risk.

Within 72 hours of global emergencies, IRC delivers healthcare, water, protection, and economic support to 123 million displaced people worldwide.