​While the plight of war refugees is in the news, and deservedly so, the struggle of refugee families from Eritrea is not often in the headlines.  Located in Northern Africa, Eritrea is led by an oppressive regime, with few rights for its people.  Thousands flee each month in search of survival and a better life. Over the last seven years, the International Rescue Committee in Silver Spring has resettled hundreds of Eritrean refugees. Because Eritrean refugees are at risk if they are identified, the subject of our story – who we will call “H” – did not want to be named. This is her story.

As the child of former refugees, who left the Soviet Union along with hundreds of thousands of others in the 1980s, Dax (‘Dan-Knee’) whose pronouns are they/them, has always felt connected to immigrant communities growing up in Philadelphia. Years later, they are now working at the IRC -- one of the largest resettlement agencies in the country -- as a Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Coordinator.

This past semester, ten high school students from four different countries were selected to represent their peers on the first IRC CONNECT Leadership Council. The IRC CONNECT Leadership Council was created to offer recently resettled students a formal opportunity to develop their leadership skills,explore civic engagement and build confidence in their ability to create change in our communities.Over the past couple of months, students have participated in a variety of activities including the SUMMIT Leadership Course at George Washington University and workshops focusing on public speaking, critical thinking, and debate skills.

The International Rescue Committee, Missoula's refugee resettlement agency, is holding a fundraiser to support refugees directly this holiday season.

Read a moving poem penned by a client of the IRC in Charlottesville about his journey as a refugee resettling in the United States.

Nolasque Balitebya began working for the IRC as a Swahili interpreter in 2019 shortly after he and his family were resettled in Missoula by the IRC. His 'can-do' attitude and eagerness to support newly arriving refugee families stood out to all staff at the IRC, and he was promoted to Caseworker in 2021. Now, Nolasque has begun the next step in his IRC journey. In March, Nolasque began serving as a Roving Direct Services Program Manager for IRC's Reception and Placement (R&P) programs. We sat down with Nolasque to reflect on his journey with the IRC in Missoula and what he is looking forward to next.

On February 23, more than a dozen speakers testified before the Georgia House Higher Education Committee in favor of House Bill 932, a bill which would extend in-state tuition at Georgia public colleges and universities to refugees immediately upon resettlement, as opposed to the current one-year wait period. The bill would also apply to individuals who risked their lives to support the U.S. military overseas, including our Afghan allies who were evacuated last summer.

The IRC in NY is delighted by the event turnout at the Youth & Wellness Panel that occurred on Wednesday, May 3 at M.M.LaFleur in NYC! Avigail Ziv, the Executive Director for both the New York and New Jersey Resettlement offices, led a discussion with the IRC’s NY Senior Youth Program Manager, Pat Curran, and Health and Wellness Manager, Andrew Jones. See below for Andrew and Pat’s insights into the ways trauma-informed supports are critical to helping youth become more aware and confident about their mental health journey.

For the first time, Flavia, a budding writer resettled as a refugee by the IRC in Salt Lake City, is sharing her work with the community.

The International Rescue Committee's 2019 Annual Report showcases the life-changing work of our 30,000 staff and volunteers in more than 40 countries around the world and in 20 cities across the United States.