Rescue lives
Help the IRC support refugees in the United States and around the world.
Over 25 million refugees worldwide have fled violence and persecution in their countries, crossing borders in search of safety. Less than one percent are ultimately resettled to one of 37 countries worldwide that resettle refugees, including the United States. Though determined to contribute to their new communities, refugees must overcome a multitude of challenges in order to recover and rebuild their lives.
Taghreed was resettled by the IRC in Seattle with her husband and two children after fleeing from the war in Iraq. It took the family seven years and countless security and health checks before they were allowed to travel to America.
Taghreed struggled to cope with the challenges of life as a refugee and the trauma she had experienced made it hard to sleep at night. When she asked her mother for advice, she suggested that she do something she loved. So Taghreed started baking, finding comfort in the familiar spices and aromas of home.
“I started to bake, all the night, til the morning. That made me feel calm and confident at the same time, because I accomplished something. I felt so happy about it.
I started to bake, all the night, til the morning. That made me feel calm and confident at the same time, because I accomplished something.
Eager to launch a career in baking, Taghreed sought help from the IRC. IRC staff helped connect her with a local organization where she earned a certificate in commercial kitchen basics. She worked in various catering positions before she decided to pursue a degree in Pastry & Baking Arts from South Seattle College. Taghreed ultimately landed her dream job at a popular pastry shop near her Seattle home.
Taghreed enjoys baking traditional Iraqi cardamom cookies with her 10-year-old son, Yousif. "It's like our family’s signature," Yousif says. "It’s been passed down generation to generation."
Photo: Andrew Oberstadt/IRC
“I think baking makes me connect with people more. When you give them something, you make them happy—and that makes me happy, too.”
I think baking makes me connect with people more. When you give them something, you make them happy—and that makes me happy, too.
Taghreed’s 10-year-old son Yousif, who often helps his mom in the kitchen, is especially proud of her. “If I did not have my mom, I would not be here. She really cares about us and works hard to keep us safe, especially when something big and scary is happening. I feel that’s very brave.”
Through a network of 26 offices in 15 U.S. states, the IRC serves more than 35,000 individuals each year, among them some 7,500 newly arrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs. Our economic empowerment programs give refugees like Taghreed the tools they need to become self-sufficient and build long-term financial stability.
The International Rescue Committee has earned the highest marks from Charity Watch and Charity Navigator, and meets all 20 of BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s accountability standards.