2008 Woodie Awards
IRC provides asylum, help for refugees
Kandice King
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
At the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee was formed in 1933. Their goal is to help refugee families assimilate into U.S. society by feeding them, providing them with shelter, teaching them English and helping them find jobs. The ultimate goal is to make the refugees self-sufficient. It is a non-profit, volunteer organization that works closely with the U.S. Department of State, Katie Kabage, resource developer for IRC, said.
Kabage came to Brookhaven College to discuss what the program is and how someone can get involved if they are interested. She said the United Nation's definition of a refugee is, "someone who crossed an international border into another country in fear of losing their lives."
Kabage said there are different reasons why people might flee their country: violence and/or persecution because of various political, religious beliefs or ethnicity. Sometimes the reason may be because of a natural disaster.
Kabage said upon arriving in the U.S. refugees must contact the U.N. and let them know why they are fleeing their country. The U.N. will set them up with the IRC.
The IRC is in contact with the person from the moment they step off the plane, up until four to six moths after they arrive. Kabage said they are supplied with basic furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies and other necessities upon arrival.
"There are over 12 million refugees world wide today, and only one percent of them are eligible for this resettlement program," Kabage said.
Kabage said if the refugees are not self-sufficient after four months, the IRC can refer them to other programs.
"They can provide some services up to five years for elderly people or single moms," she said.
Kabage said the IRC gets most of their funds to help the refugees from the government and the rest comes from donations.
Kabage said there are two types of cases. A free case is when a refugee knows no one in the area. The other type is an anchor case, when a refugee has relatives in the area whom they can live with.
"If their immediate family is still in danger they can apply for re-unification so they can come as well," Kabage said.
She said anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of the IRC's funds come from the government. When these monies run out they have fundraisers or take donations.
"In the Dallas area, they usually help 300 to 500 people a year," Kabage said. "Just this month they are helping 120 people."
She said volunteers are needed. When someone donates their time to the IRC, the government will donate $18 to the program for every hour the volunteer works. Students can volunteer by contacting Kabage at Katie.Kabage@theirc.org.
Kabage came to Brookhaven College to discuss what the program is and how someone can get involved if they are interested. She said the United Nation's definition of a refugee is, "someone who crossed an international border into another country in fear of losing their lives."
Kabage said there are different reasons why people might flee their country: violence and/or persecution because of various political, religious beliefs or ethnicity. Sometimes the reason may be because of a natural disaster.
Kabage said upon arriving in the U.S. refugees must contact the U.N. and let them know why they are fleeing their country. The U.N. will set them up with the IRC.
The IRC is in contact with the person from the moment they step off the plane, up until four to six moths after they arrive. Kabage said they are supplied with basic furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies and other necessities upon arrival.
"There are over 12 million refugees world wide today, and only one percent of them are eligible for this resettlement program," Kabage said.
Kabage said if the refugees are not self-sufficient after four months, the IRC can refer them to other programs.
"They can provide some services up to five years for elderly people or single moms," she said.
Kabage said the IRC gets most of their funds to help the refugees from the government and the rest comes from donations.
Kabage said there are two types of cases. A free case is when a refugee knows no one in the area. The other type is an anchor case, when a refugee has relatives in the area whom they can live with.
"If their immediate family is still in danger they can apply for re-unification so they can come as well," Kabage said.
She said anywhere from 80 to 90 percent of the IRC's funds come from the government. When these monies run out they have fundraisers or take donations.
"In the Dallas area, they usually help 300 to 500 people a year," Kabage said. "Just this month they are helping 120 people."
She said volunteers are needed. When someone donates their time to the IRC, the government will donate $18 to the program for every hour the volunteer works. Students can volunteer by contacting Kabage at Katie.Kabage@theirc.org.
Be the first to comment on this story