Over 70 community sponsors worked to fulfill wish lists for 110 newly arrived refugee families and individuals this holiday season during our annual holiday gift drive, Light One Candle.

The IRC in Silver Spring held their annual job fair on May 24 in downtown Silver Spring. The event was attended by 144 refugee job seekers and 24 employer partners. In the month since the job fair, there are 87 documented client interviews and 10 refugees who have started new positions, with more new jobs anticipated.

Akeel’s art mixes darkness and light to reflect the struggle and hope of the refugee experience. But there is more. As Akeel puts it, he wants his art to communicate that “the Iraqi people love peace, art, and liberty, not war.”

The IRC continues to deliver life-saving programs to the refugee and immigrant community in Charlottesville, while adjusting to the realities of working remotely.

Because so much more needs to be done to address the needs of refugees, both in Europe and in the Middle East, the IRC is asking individuals, foundations and corporations to help us expand and deepen the impact of our work.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide have increased policy support for digital financial services, including by waiving fees and allowing remote onboarding to both allow for greater social distancing and support resilience in the midst of a major economic crisis.This research report - based on findings in refugee contexts in Jordan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia - finds that digital services such as mobile money can in theory be more accessible for refugees than standard bank accounts, in practice refugees continue to face barriers.

The IRC in Silver Spring spoke with Parwana, an Afghan refugee and changemaker who shares her culture with others through her catering business.