Josephine Bonkongya, a refugee from the Democractic Republic of the Congo, supports the adjustment of other newly-arrived refugee women through the Community Health Promoter Program. Through the program, Josephine helped numerous women adjust to their new lives in the U.S., and emerged as a community leader.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, refugee community leaders have helped provide masks, language accessible documents and videos, and put their lives on the line for their community.

We are thrilled to share with you the stories of refugee community members who have been welcomed to a new home in Tallahassee—in their own words, as shared with our elected leaders.

The IRC in Dallas is pleased to announced that after the success of our last refugee computer class in November with students from SMU’s School of Engaged Learning, other interested SMU leaders wanted to recreate the opportunity because of how impactful it was!

Jean Marie Ishimwe is a 23-year-old youth advocate in Nairobi, Kenya. He is also a refugee from Rwanda. Today, he is using his coordination and motivational skills to mobilize young people to hand out food, masks and information about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRC in Florida’s staff is in conversations with Congressional leaders to discuss the IRC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Presidential Determination for the admission of refugees in the United States.