International Refugee Committee in Charlottesville, Virginia

June 17, 2005, Charlottesville, VA
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer: Doris Robinson
Telephone: 202-504-6353, Email: robinsondm@state.gov


On June 17, the eve of World Refugee Day 2005, the Washington FPC sponsored a day tour to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) a refugee resettlement center in Charlottesville, VA.  Twelve journalists from China, Russia, Mongolia, South Africa, Togo, Germany, South Korea and the VOA Afghanistan service participated in the tour to Charlottesville, more known for its historic estates of Monticello, Montpelier and Ash Lawn. 

The program opened with a briefing by IRC Director Susan Donovan who provided an overview of the organization, explaining the work they do in resettling refugees into the Charlottesville community, which receives approximately 150 refugees each year.  During a tour of the center, the journalists were able to visit a classroom where newly arrived refugees were learning English.  The group also paid a visit to a class being taught financial literacy and employment/job skills class, taught by a volunteer Human Resources manager for a company that has hired over two-dozen refugees.  Afterwards, an employment coordinator took the group on a walking tour to several area businesses that have hired refugee employees, some now refugee-owned.   Several of the employers, including representatives from the Inova Corporation and the Omni Hotel told the group that as employees, the refugees are very hard working and dedicated. 

Next, the journalists went on home visits and met with several refugee families who shared their experience of coming to this country.  The program concluded back at the IRC headquarters with a roundtable discussion made up of IRC staff, residents from the area and several community leaders.  The journalists also got an opportunity to interview refugees from Afghanistan, Togo, Turkey, D.R. Congo, Croatica, China and a Bantu refugee from Somalia.