In 1989, as a HIAS caseworker, I met many Soviet Jews who had fled Dnipropetrovsk. I never thought I would see the day when that city, the third largest in Ukraine, would again have a thriving Jewish community. But that is exactly what I found.
Launched in July 2013, The Linking Communities Project: Creating Welcome for Refugees is a laboratory for developing innovative ideas to help educate communities about the many benefits of refugee resettlement. This year, TLC chose to work in Minnesota based on the state’s rich history of welcoming refugees.
“I was honored to talk to this group. They know better than most the importance of the work that HIAS does now, having been refugees themselves,” Hetfield said. “They are our inspiration to make sure that refugees are protected, and that refugee families are protected.”
“The mothers kept telling us how thankful they were," a HIAS staffer said. “They were really grateful that their children were able to receive high quality care, and that they were not discriminated against for being refugees.”
António Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told the audience at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that this is a manageable problem for Europe, but “there is one condition for a problem to be manageable -- it must be managed.”
António Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told the audience at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that this is a manageable problem for Europe, but “there is one condition for a problem to be manageable -- it must be managed.”
In a little-noticed shift, the Obama administration has taken steps to ensure that the long-term relationships of couples who were not able to be legally married in their home countries or while in flight are nevertheless recognized by the U.S. family reunification program. “Refugees with same-sex partners will finally have the opportunity to reunite with them and to make their families whole again,” said HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield.
Winnie Gacheru, director of psychosocial programs at HIAS Kenya, describes working with some of the world's most vulnerable refugees in this short video.
Winnie Gacheru, director of psychosocial programs at HIAS Kenya, describes working with some of the world's most vulnerable refugees in this short video.
Winnie Gacheru, director of psychosocial programs at HIAS Kenya, describes working with some of the world's most vulnerable refugees in this short video.
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