Actress Sarah Wayne Callies traveled with the International Rescue Committee to Serbia where she met with refugees. In this video, she shares a personal story about her grandfather’s journey as a refugee fleeing from Hungary in the early 1920s. Read more about Sarah’s trip on Medium.

After fleeing violence in Iraq with her young family, Taghreed had trouble coping with life as a refugee. "Do something you love," suggested her mother. So Taghreed started baking, finding comfort in the familiar scents of spices from home. The IRC helped her begin a baking career, and now she works at a popular pastry shop near where she lives in Seattle. Her son Yousif says he's proud of his courageous mom.

For the first time, this Iranian refugee is celebrating Christmas in America. He put up a Christmas tree, holiday lights and is hopeful for a brighter future. Amir Biazar was a journalist and human rights activist in Iran for over ten years. Because of his work, he was detained three times and tortured. While in prison, his teeth, legs, and shoulders were broken.

Along with hundreds of other refugees, Audrey, Baimba and Hassan have received mental health support from the IRC while living in Greece’s overcrowded camps.