Texas has historically been a place for new beginnings, and today it is still giving groups of people a place to finally lay down roots. Most people have never had their lives disrupted and been forced to start life over again in a new country. However, this is the way of life for thousands of refuges, some of who reside in Dallas.
An organization devoted to protecting the fragile new beginnings of refugees is the International Rescue Committee, which has been serving refugees for more than 70 years. The IRC of Dallas, located on the corner of Greenville Avenue and Walnut Hill, relies on volunteers to help these families make the difficult transition to living in a new environment.
The IRC is an internationally recognized organization that aids refugees from across the world. The IRC consist of “critical first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists and volunteers,” according to the organization’s Web site. The organization provides access to safety, asylum and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been affected by violence and oppression. The IRC provides shelter, clean water, healthcare and education to displaced people.
The IRC was founded in 1933 under the counsel of Albert Einstein to assist Germans who were suffering under Hitler’s totalitarian rule. Einstein said that “any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
The IRC also helped in the resettlement process of Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian refuges in the 1950s. The IRC is currently expanding aid to those in West Africa and the countries ravaged by the 2005 tsunami in Indonesia.
The IRC has offices throughout the Unites States that help in the resettlement process. These offices focus on permanently resettling the refugees and helping them start a new life.
The IRC opened its doors in Dallas in 1975 and resettles about 500 refugees and asylees per year. This includes helping families find housing, teaching them English, helping enroll their children in school and helping them find work.
The IRC needs volunteers to help these families adjust to life in Dallas. One program funded by the Texas Bar Foundation, protects the victims of human trafficking. The IRC also helps vulnerable elderly people, through educational outreach programs.
Women and children refugees also receive special care form the IRC. They help the women build social networks and help them professionally.
One program, which aids refugee children, is the after-school program. This program is available to kids who are enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Volunteer tutors help the children with their homework and help them learn to speak English.
Many of the after-school program volunteers are students from SMU, like sophomore Whitney Eidman.
“I enjoy getting to know the children and hearing about where they are from,” Eidman said.
One of the students that Eidman teaches is a young boy named Mohamed. He is a refugee from Somalia and he was born with a birth defect that forces him to live in a wheelchair.
Eidman is student in Dr. Rick Halperin’s class, The Struggle for Human Rights. Halperin encourages his students to volunteer at the IRC. For many students, the IRC After-School program is a life changing volunteer opportunity.
“I would like for students to come in contact with people from various parts of the world, who have had experiences that SMU students will never encounter … On a personal level, I hope that they will be moved, to want to get involved so they can help make a difference in these people’s lives,” Halperin said.
The kids at the after-school program enjoy working with the students and often form bonds with many of the volunteers. Anna Lee, another SMU volunteer in Dr. Halperin’s class, said, “I did a mentorship program this summer and it was life changing … I helped two children learn to read, write and I played soccer with them.”
“Overwhelmingly, the majority of students have written about how profound the IRC experience has been for them … they were personally transformed,” Halperin said. According to Robin Al-Haddad, the Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator, the IRC is in need of volunteers.
“Every program needs volunteers … specifically Case Management program and the after-school program,” Al-Haddad said.
Dallas can be a very challenging environment for people to make a new start.
“There are lots of refugees in Dallas, but the city does not make it easy for them to get around or adjust. Luckily there are volunteers to care for them,” Halperin said.
However, Dallas does have some benefits that other cities do not have.
“Every IRC office is different, but we accept more refugees than others and most clients feel welcome and comfortable here,” Al-Haddad said. “Dallas has some important resources such as the Dallas/Ft.Worth International Airport.”
Currently, the IRC is promoting an event called, “Artvocacy”, or advocacy through art. This fundraising event will be held May 17. Refuges will showcase their art and receive proceeds for the art pieces that they sell.
“We need volunteers to help raise awareness about the event and we need artists to donate their artwork,” said Al-Haddad.
Events such as “Artvocacy,” raise awareness about the IRC and it showcases the talents of Dallas refugees. Through the help of volunteers, the IRC will continue to survive and help those that are trying to make a new life in Dallas.
