Pledge to make a difference, together.

International Rescue Committee

122 E 42ND ST 12TH FLOOR,
NEW YORK, NY 10168-1299,
USA

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$302,420 raised via 5053 donations

Our Mission

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and more than 20 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

Over the past 90 years, the IRC has built a strong position as the largest refugee resettlement agency in the United States, and has paid close attention and provided service to the recent conflicts in Afghanistan (providing education and protection to 1 million Afghan citizens including women and girls) and Ukraine (collaborating with nonprofit organizations in both Ukraine and refugee-receiving Poland to provide aid).

How Your Donations Help

  • $30 can provide trucked water for 1 family for a month.
  • $48 can cover the cost of school fees and supplies for 1 child.
  • $90 can provide medical care for 1 child with malnutrition throughout the course of treatment.

Our Impact

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International Rescue Committee posted an impact story
Kampala, Uganda

When 21-year-old welder, Rahma’s family didn’t have enough money to send her to school she was sent to live with her older sister in Kampala. This is where she heard about the IRC and Ikea Foundation’s Re:BUiLD Program. “My sister told me to fill the forms and I took them” Said Rahma, “the good thing is they called!” Rahama studied Welding and was ready to take her training to the next level. Looking for local opportunities for a work placement wasn’t easy as a young woman. “I went to ask for a place to do my work from to study but the guys told me we cannot give girls a job, they told me to go to the hotels and start serving foods.” Even some of her colleagues where she works now didn’t believe in her when she first arrived. “The first day I came here I met some guy here. The guy told me what have you come here to do? I tell the guy I'm here for welding and he said 'you cannot do this job.' I said yes if you can learn that means that I will also learn. So, the guy gave me the opportunity and said: ‘if you can compete with the guys, then you can stay here and work.’ So, I had to compete with them and I'm still here, not giving up.” Rahma said that after a while her male colleagues started to help her and her female colleague at work. Working as a Welder has meant Rahma is able to support herself and her sister and even send money back to her mother. “This job has changed a lot for me,” She says, “I can own my own phone. I lived for a bit without a phone. I came to my sister without a phone. I couldn't afford to buy for me a phone because even some time could sleep without eating.” As for the future, Rahma dreams of running her own business and training other young people like herself. “I would love to offer trainings to anyone who's willing, especially the girls. I can learn today and share that opportunity to anyone.”

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International Rescue Committee posted an impact story
Lebanon

Sabah is a 15-year-old Syrian girl who was displaced, and now lives in Lebanon with her family. Sabah was already engaged to a man from her community when she started taking part in the IRC’s activities at a women’s safe space. After participating in reproductive health sessions, self-esteem and decision-making sessions, she learnt that education is one of her rights as a girl, and decided that she did not want to get married so young. The sessions helped Sabah develop her support network as well as her trust in her parents, and she gained the confidence to open up to them, telling them that she wanted to decide her own future. With her parents' support, Sabah called off the marriage in order to resume her education. After school, her dream is to mentor other refugees with the IRC in Lebanon. “There is no difference between a boy and a girl,” Sabah says. “They are the same in every aspect, and like a boy has rights, a girl has rights too. I’ve learnt that a woman should be firm and defend her rights.”

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International Rescue Committee posted an impact story
Arizona, USA

In August of 2021, Arifa, Zahra and Hadisa found themselves stranded outside Kabul airport with a group of 170 students. The Taliban had just taken control of the country and they were among the thousands hoping to evacuate—even if it meant leaving their families behind. The situation was tense and dangerous. Today, they’re enrolled at Arizona State University in the United States, their days packed with activities and studying. Zahra is studying towards a degree in Law and hopes to one day work for the U.N. Hadisa, a talented skateboarder, is studying software engineering. Hadisa’s dream is to find ways to help those still struggling in Afghanistan.“I really would like to do something for the girls of Afghanistan, especially for those who have lost their parents or don't have someone to support them,” she says. “I’m going to bring change to the next generation of Afghanistan.” Arifa is studying cybersecurity and is an active athlete, passionate about martial arts, including taekwondo. The students are all in agreement that they want to dispel stereotypes about Afghanistan. “It hurts me when people say, ‘I’m sorry that you are from that country,’” says Hadisa. “We face many challenges,” adds Arifa, “but we still try our best. We are stronger and more knowledgeable than the world thinks.”

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International Rescue Committee posted an impact story
Kampala

24-year-old Nelson fled his home in the Democratic Republic of Congo after his uncle was killed for his work as a lawyer and his entire family was threatened. When Nelson arrived in Kampala, he knew that he needed to learn English and find a job. Having had some experience cutting hair in the DRC, he used what little money he had—not to buy new clothes or a cell phone—but to buy a pair of hair clippers. With his hair clippers in hand, he started going door to door asking people if they would like their hair cut. As he started to earn some money, he dreamt of opening his own hair salon in Kampala. Through the FIND program, he was paired with mentor Nabaasa Allen, owner of New Star Salon. Nabaasa shared skills that enabled Nelson to expand his barber shop into a unisex salon that serves his new community. Nelson’s favorite part of the job is seeing the joy on his clients’ faces when he shows them their new hairstyles. “It’s not only the customer that feels good, but by yourself, you feel now that you are confident.”

Causes We Support

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