After years of upheaval and uncertainty, refugee & immigrant girls in the United States are ready to explore their path in life. Vision Not Victim supports these young women to envision their future and redefine what their communities and they themselves thought possible. Run by the IRC previously in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Jordan, the IRC in Northern California piloted the program in the United States over April's spring break in Oakland.

Speaking the same language is not a prerequisite for friendship for Joanne, a dedicated family mentor volunteer, who continues to build supportive relationships with newly arrived refugee families.

Nabil fled Syria with his parents, brother and two sisters when the war intensified in their home city of Homs. They struggled for four years in neighboring Jordan before being given the opportunity to resettle in the United States in September 2015. Read about Nabil's transition to a new home and community.

The IRC in NY celebrates two decades of its flagship youth program, the Refugee Youth Summer Academy.