International Rescue Committee

This is a fundraiser for my Eagle Scout project, in which I am also running a fundraiser to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee.

This week, Myanmar was hit with a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, destroying everything in its path. Many people have seen the viral images on social media but have not yet realized the sheer level of destruction this earthquake caused.

It was so large that the earthquake reached select parts of China and Thailand. The death toll has officially surpassed 3,000 lives lost and is rising. People have lost their lives, homes, family members, pets, and their livelihoods as they know it, and we can help.

Any and all donations can help the people of Myanmar get back on their feet and try to return to normal life. All proceeds will be going to the International Rescue Committee, which aims to aid life-saving medical assistance, fresh water, and hygiene kits, to help the people of Myanmar survive the situation they are in.

Any and all ICL families can pitch in, and even a dollar donation would help. Together, ICL can help save the livelihoods, and possibly lives, of thousands of people suffering in Myanmar.

A safe place to lay your head and a hot meal are normal standards for most households, however, that’s not the case when you are fleeing from a country in crisis, a victim of human trafficking, and survivors of torture. International Rescue Committee provides economic wellbeing, education, health, empowerment and safety. You have the opportunity to raise funds to help this mission, please join us today!

As of the end of 2023, 117 million individuals worldwide were forcibly displaced, according to the United Nations Commissioner for Refugee latest Global Trends report. Displacement often results in several challenges including food insecurity, spread of illness and limited educational and basic survival resources. This is particularly vulnerable for women and children who are disproportionately affected and 40% of children being below the age of 18 (UNHCR, 2023)

Your donation will allow IRC the ability to offer lifesaving aid for individuals and communities that need it most around the world.

How IRC has changed lives

Meet Hamida, a Syrian refugee and photographer who found purpose and meaning through her photography work. Following her escape, from the conflict in Syria, she made a home in Jordan where she utilizes her camera to tell the story of courage and perseverance of refugees.

Hamida shares a story of her journey to Jordan which was not easy – it was a long and treacherous and her and family endured harsh conditions, often without even having a tent for shelter. “We didn't have any belongings, even the belongings we had, we had thrown away on the way, so we literally arrived with nothing” Hamida remembers.

Now safely in Jordan, Hamida uses her art to celebrate the rebuilding of refugees lives through her lens. IRC has made it possible for Hamida to turn her passion into a business, through their Resilient Futures program. She was provided an opportunity to attend business training and offered grants to purchase equipment.

By supporting IRC, you are helping individuals like Hamida find new hope and healing.

You can learn more about the International Rescue Committee here: https://www.rescue.org/

Sources: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2023) Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2023. UNHCR. https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/global-trends-report-2023.pdf?version1723671474

Join us in celebrating Kais Zaki's 1st birthday!

On November 17th, we'll be gathering to shower Zaki with love, laughter, and birthday wishes.

In lieu of birthday gifts, we ask for your generous donation to support a charity Sharif and I deeply care about: the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global humanitarian organization dedicated to helping people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster. The IRC works tirelessly to provide essential aid to refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people.

A special focus of the IRC is the welfare of children.

They provide essential services such as:

Thank you for your support!

Hello, my name is Amari and I'm turning 20 this year. Most people who grew up as privileged as I have been lucky enough to would ask for something expensive to celebrate, but how can I? How can I ask for something like that when there are children in Gaza and other parts of the world who will never even get to live to see half my age? How can I sit here with all of my family members and ask for material things when there are children and families who don't deserve to be at the center of a war every day? How many family members in Gaza have lost their loved ones on their birthdays? How many are starving to death before they reach 10? How many are sick and dying with limited resources before they can even learn to walk? I can't sit here and ask for money or material items; it makes me sick to my stomach. So, instead of getting me things or sending me money, though I do of course appreciate the sentiment, I'm asking my family members and friends to donate to this GoFundMe. Please help me celebrate my 20 years of living by making it possible for refugees to live even one more because many aren't even being allowed that. Any amount is appreciated, big or small; knowing that anyone I love would be willing to help with this in any way would make my heart immeasurably happy. And if you're seeing this and can't donate, I urge you to share this instead. I can't be there to help directly, but with your help, the people who are, can.

Hello, I am Mohammed from Gaza. My house was destroyed and my family and I were displaced. We left the house without taking anything from our home. We were displaced in an UNRWA school for 4 months. We were displaced from it because the school was destroyed and the occupation requested that we evacuate it. We have been displaced until now more than 16 times. The second time was to Rafah. Now the occupation requested that we evacuate it, so we were displaced to the city of Khan Yunis. We are still displaced every day throughout the war. We did not have money. I was not able to buy food and drink for my family after being displaced from the school and to Rafah. I was able to build a simple tent for me and my family of 9 to live in. My parents are elderly, so I am their only supporter, but unfortunately the tent was destroyed because of the occupation. Now, in the last displacement, I was not able to buy a tent for my family to live in. I do not have money. They destroyed what money and work I have. Our life is very difficult. We walk distances to search for water and we do not have much food to eat. I want you to help me with some money to support my family and try to escape death. Donate For my family through the following link and share the link on social media

The International Rescue Committee

Help change lives across the globe! We are raising money for the International Rescue Committee, which is an organization that assists refugees and communities in need all over the world. So far in the U.S., they have helped 35,000 people establish asylum and receive aid, and 2,697 have been assisted in becoming citizens. Globally, they have a hand in over 40 countries to provide healthcare, education for children, and empower communities to be self-reliant. They have major focuses on the crisis in both Gaza and Ukraine, border asylum seekers, climate change, and refugees in America. Currently, there is a crisis watch in Sudan where they are experiencing extreme conflict in their economy and political unrest. The country has already experienced a loss of around 150,000 people due to starvation, and it is estimated that over 25 million Sudanese people are currently in desperate need of humanitarian aid. The money collected though this campaign will go directly to the International Rescue Committee to be used to fund their educational programs, healthcare supplies, infrastructure assistance programs, or whatever else they may need. We take our volunteer experience from soup kitchens, elderly homes, and aiding in Christmas present packaging for children. We will use our experience to benefit various types of communities. Every little bit goes a long way, so please feel free to donate what you can!

For more information visit the website below!

https://www.rescue.org/eu/who-we-are

Source:

https://www.rescue.org/

For over 90 years, The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has worked to support families affected by humanitarian crises. Originally established at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC has now grown to operate in over 50 crisis-affected countries, helping people survive, recover, and rebuild.

Through its wide reach, the IRC has assisted over 32.9 million individuals, supporting 3,137 health facilities, restoring water supplies for 3,490,159 people, and aiding 222,278 children under the age of 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Despite such a wide reach, only 13% of the money donated to the IRC goes to overhead and fundraising, while the other 87% goes directly to people and programs to support those people in crisis.

We all know the importance of friends, family, and communities in our lives and the effect they have on us. We rely on them for emotional support, experience shared moments with them, and support each other’s personal growth. For those suffering from crisis, the IRC serves as that lifeline for those facing the devastation of humanitarian tragedies. The importance of such support is reflected by Albert Einsteins' call for the creation of the IRC, and why it doesn't take a genius to know the importance of such a lifeline.

By providing essential aid, resources, and refugee relocation programs, the IRC helps families navigate through hardships and rebuild their lives. Whether it's lack of healthcare access, food and water instability, or personal tragedies resulting from a humanitarian crisis, the IRC's relentless commitment to serving those in distress is a testament to the enduring power of compassion and collective action.

References:

Irc. (2023, July 27). The IRC's 90-year journey of innovative solutions. The IRC. https://www.rescue.org/article/ircs-90-year-journey-innovative-solutions#:~:text=1930s%20%E2%80%94%20Albert%20Einstein%20and%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20IRC&text=In%20July%201933%2C%20this%20group,Germany%20under%20the%20Nazi%20regime.

What we do. (n.d.-b). The IRC. https://www.rescue.org/what-we-do?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8pKxBhD_ARIsAPrG45mbOJInb7Z-yBDr1zi8mesJUyD6FYZpDH0QDy-zAeOUCCkjnVmz7i8aAm-9EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Help the UNT Rescue Rangers raise money for International Rescue

Committee

Cait Burns, Audrey Ortiz, Melissa Cooper, Elizabeth Flores, and Leah Suasnovar, the UNT Rescue Rangers, have united to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee.

The International Rescue Committee has been working tirelessly to assist communities worldwide for almost 90 years. Their focus is on delivering aid, helping people to recover and empowering them to take control of their lives again. They respond to some of the world’s worst crises, delivering aid and paving the way for long-term recovery.

We have chosen this IRC because they are committed to transparency and accountability while they ensure vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need during difficult times. You can trust that your donation will be used effectively and efficiently to help those in need. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a meaningful impact. By coming together as a community, we help ease their burden during this stressful time.

During the duration of this campaign we not only strive to meet the needs for our women and children when needing a safe place or necessities to survive, But we also like to keep them educated as well. Here at the IRC we foster a culture of excellence no matter how hard the challenge.IRC encourages and ensures that we will also help all women and children with resources like books, or educational materials. We will also fundraise and ask for donations for educational needs. We feel that keeping our girls educated will also inspire them to want to make change and pay it forward to any other struggling woman or child. As we have stated before, we are here to help in all areas for our families.

Economic stability is something most people take for granted. Refugees and immigrants are often faced with having to make critical choices in order to survive. Usually, they are struggling to have even their most basic needs for survival met. So, it is not rare for children of impoverished families to be pulled out of school and into the workforce just so that the family can meet their needs of food, water, and shelter. The IRC is a direct resource to refugees and immigrants so that they do not go hungry or go homeless. They provide families with cash assistance so that they are able to avoid debt or other desperate measures. The IRC also assists people with financial and career advising such as choosing a successful career path and the importance of good credit. Furthermore, they ensure that those receiving aid can graduate into self-sufficient people with the skills given to them such as entrepreneurial skills and management skills.

our-goals-economic-wellbeing

Photo by Ono Kosuki from Pexels

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-woman-in-hijab-standing-near-wall-6000179/

The International Rescue Committee is an organization that focuses on empowering individuals, especially women and children, to make informed decisions that can significantly impact their lives. Conflict and disaster can significantly affect where and how people live, as well as how they are governed. The ITC works to support programs that empower displaced people, assists individuals in obtaining appropriate legal status for themselves and their families, and collaborates with decision-makers in local and national governments. Through these efforts, the ITC aims to help people understand their rights and make informed choices for their future.

https://www.rescue.org/outcome/empowerment

Photo by Total Shape from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/healthcare-text-screenshot-near-green-fern-leaf-2383010/

The IRC helps ensure that all have access to basic healthcare, internationally and domestically. The IRC also helps get infants into childhood and beat child death illnesses. They provide women with prenatal and reproductive health services. The IRC provides mental health services and clean drinking water. The IRC helps with health concerns both foreign and domestic, to ensure refugees are healthy enough to immigrate and have continued access to healthcare once they arrive.

https://www.rescue.org/page/our-goals-health

May 29, 2020, Photo by Ganta Srinivas from Pexels, free to use, Group of People in Standing on Brown Grass Field

Women and Girls

Though the International Rescue Committee is dedicated to helping all people suffering from displacement and disaster, they have a particular interest in women and girls. This group is prone to being discriminated against. They disproportionately bear the burden of any misfortune and, when there’s a lack of access, they will usually go without before their brothers and husbands. This applies to education, healthcare, income inequalities and especially safety. That’s why the International Rescue Committee does its best to ensure that whatever services are available, also reach the women and girls within a community.

Source: https://www.rescue.org/outcome/women-girls

May 21, 2020, Photo by Aviz from Pexels, free to use, Close-Up Photo of Caution Signage

Safety

Safety is one of those things that we all hope to have. However, it’s not always guaranteed. The International Rescue Committee wants to improve safety for all. With safety as a goal, there are initiatives to improve the safety of people in refugee camps, with lighting and locks, but also by providing assistance and education for staying safe in the workplace and among families. They even provide services to underserved schools in the United States, training health and case workers and providing mental health support for teachers and students. Through education, advocacy and practical measures, the IRC wants to keep everyone safe.

Source: https://www.rescue.org/page/our-goals-safety

Testimony-

My mother immigrated to the United States back in 1989 from Mexico. My mom left with nothing but a change of clothes in a torn up backpack for all three of her kids. With her, traveled a group of seven people including my, then, nine year-old, seven year-old, and three year-old brothers. With just a drop of hope in her heart that she’d make it to the land of riches in her heart, she illegally crossed the river. She was fleeing poverty on her own, without my father by her side. She endured the unforgiving sun, threatening wildlife, murderous waters, and the fear of not making it. A glimpse of making it out of a cycle of poverty and having the slimmest chance of giving her family a better chance at life gave her the courage to immigrate from the only place she knew. Upon reaching the United States, she experienced a culture shock. She was alone. It was almost impossible for her to get on her feet without knowing the language. The first feeling you get once immigrated is severe displacement. Sadness overwhelmed her knowing she had left the comfort of her brothers and sisters and the sights and smells of her home.

Years later, my mother faced adversity by embracing the stigma of being an immigrant. She did not know the language but that did not diminish her hunger for success and resilience. The challenge of not feeling welcomed anywhere you went only gave her more confidence to prove them wrong. She wanted everyone to know that she was here to contribute to America the way everyone else was because she loved America. America was her home now and she did not intend to sit back and take but instead give to the country for giving her a bounty of opportunities. Despite the stereotypes, prejudice, and obstacles, she blossomed with career opportunities. My mother cherished America because she understood just how precious the country was for giving her a real chance at life. Soon, my mother gained her Citizenship of the United States. Tears rolled down her cheek that day. She was safe. She was happy. She was home.

Transparency

The International Rescue Committee meets standards for give.org.

https://give.org/charity-reviews/national/Relief-and-Development/International-Rescue-Committee-in-New-York-ny-3041

The International Rescue Committee has a 4 star rating on Charity navigator at 91 percent, mostly because only the financials have been gone over. However, the financials are transparent and look about as good as a charity tends to.

They spend 5 cents to raise every dollar and 88 percent spent in 2021 was on program costs. All financial documents are available below.

https://www.rescue.org/financial-information

While each of us supports different causes and charities we would love if you choose to donate to this cause for her birthday in lieu of bringing her a present.

We are so grateful for the love and blessings you want to shower on our little Zoya, and truly believe the best gift we can give her is a world with no child left behind.

Founded in 1933 by refugee from Nazi Germany Albert Einstein and others, the International Rescue Committee provides direct practical assistance to those fleeing disaster and conflict in over 40 countries. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar by anonymous donors.

Works by local artists including Mike Gallagher, Ginny Zanger, Nancy Lorenz, Phyllis Bluhm, Nina Lev, Vivienne Shalom, Laura Gang, Mary Harman, Terry Boutelle, Richard Youngstrom, Muradieu Joseph, Honey Berry Art and more will be available for sale at the event. With the exception of one starving artist, all proceeds will be donated to the IRC. 

Please join us at an outdoor art fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee

When: Thursday September 14, 4- 5:30 pm 

Where: Home of Michael Weinstein and Martha Matlaw 60 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain 

Refreshments will be served

Parking available in the lot across from the Curley School, 493 Centre St., Street parking available as well