International Rescue Committee

Assist refugee resettlement in your community
www.theirc.org

Age group: Grades 5-12
Geographic area: Washington State

Did you know that over 5,000 refugees come to Washington State every year, and that Washington has the 4th largest refugee population in the United States? The International Rescue Committee (IRC) works to orient, support, and educate refugees in their new home in the United States. Resettling about 500 refugees a year, the IRC has worked with people from 27 countries. We can all help in the challenge to find housing, schooling, and job training by becoming involved and educated in the issues surrounding refugee resettlement.

 Choose a project that makes a difference in the lives of refugees:

• Invite IRC Voices, a speaker’s bureau of refugees and IRC representatives, to come to your school to talk about their experiences and answer students’ questions.
• Arrange a campaign to collect basic household resettlement items that all refugees need.
• Organize a fundraising campaign for IRC or advertise their work in your school newspaper and on billboards in your hallways.
• Contact the IRC office to find out about other projects open for school groups.

While the IRC operates in offices in Seattle and south King County, supporting people through this project can be done anywhere!

For more information, contact Megan Anderson at 206-623-2105 or by email.

Connects to issues: Peace and Conflict, Poverty, Population, Resource Consumption

Facing the Future lesson links:

• Engaging Students Through Global Issues
  • Seeking Asylum
  • Take a Step for Equity
  • Everyone Does Better When Women Do Better
  • Worldview Mingle
  • Who Are the Nacirema
  • When the Chips Are Down
  • Creating Our Future

When you contact the organization, don't forget to tell them you learned about the project from Facing the Future.

Email us about your project and how you're making a difference!