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.

In a significant collaboration, the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) launched a new project to provide primary healthcare services to more than 23,000 Syrian refugees in Za’atari Refugee Camp. This initiative, set to extend for approximately two and a half years, marks a critical step towards addressing the urgent healthcare needs of the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp.

During the winter 2016 semester, Joseph Mears worked an intern in Silver Spring with the Intensive Case Management Program. He looks back on his internship and a successful donation drive that helped those most in need.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global non-profit organization that helps people affected by humanitarian crises - including the climate crisis, and Muse Games, the developer of upcoming PC and Console title ‘Wildmender’, are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration seeking to leverage the power of gaming for a greater cause.

This year, IRC Charlottesville client David Divin is going online and on-air to spread a message of hope to other refugees. In June, he joined an outside collaborator for an exciting and unique musical project to celebrate World Refugee Day.

Starting this month, the IRC offices in San Jose and Turlock/Modesto have teamed up with the federal government to provide virtual orientation services for asylees, replacing in-person orientation services formerly provided at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum office in San Francisco.

Silver Spring staff participate in an office-wide Spirit Week.

Community partnerships create a path for refugees to come full circle and aid other refugees resettling in Utah.