Support refugees and immigrants by becoming a volunteer with the IRC in Atlanta. Opportunities range from English class teaching assistance and career development guidance to donation drive organizing and group volunteer projects.

After arriving from Afghanistan as a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder in July 2020, Shallah Shaiq began the process of building a new life in the U.S. with her husband and teenage son. Shallah initially earned a bachelor’s degree in law from Afghanistan and carries a passion for working with her Afghan peers through communications. Shallah felt determined to acquire the skills she needed to develop her resume and continue her education in the U.S.  so she could continue to support women’s rights within an Afghan immigrant organization.  

On Wednesday, September 29, the IRC in Atlanta’s Executive Director, Justin Howell, hosted a webinar briefing with our partners—Alpa Amin, Executive Director of Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN); Marjan Nadir, Economic Empowerment Manager at Refugee Women’s Network (RWN); and Chris Purdy, Director of Veterans for American Ideals and Outreach at Human Rights First—to discuss our work and how the community can help us welcome and support new Afghan arrivals in Georgia and continue our more than 40-year history of welcoming refugees to our state.

The IRC in NJ’s Economic Empowerment team support clients with finding opportunities and in pursuing economic mobility.  The IRC assisted a client through the long process and encouraged her along the way. She decided to apply for an Assistant Teacher position at a Child Learning Center in Newark, NJ. It has been an emotional and long journey, but the outcome has been transformative. She takes pride in her new role, which allows her to sharpen her professional skills, contribute to childhood education, and expand her English.  

Over the past year, the Utah Immigration Collaborative, an initiative facilitated by a network of five immigration legal service providers in Salt Lake City, created a streamlined system for connecting individuals seeking immigration legal assistance to service providers. The Collaborative responds to growing need within immigrant communities in Utah by providing affordable legal representation, assistance and support.

The IRC is responding to the 2024 floods in Derna, Libya, providing critical medical, mental health, and protection services. Over 33,000 people have been reached through health consultations and support programs.

As economic recovery activities for refugees in Jordan are restricted, the IRC has found that the provision of unconditional cash assistance coupled with case management, health services, psychosocial support, and outreach is a valuable means of reducing this distress.