Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS)
The UNHCR Definition of a Refugee(Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention) A person, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his [or her] nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him [or her]self of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his [or her] former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”
Just one of many stories…. When Kamaria was just 20 years old, she fled war, poverty, and squalid camps in her homeland of Somalia. With the help of Anna Baghdassarian – herself an immigrant from Iran, now the program director at Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) – Kamaria, her husband, and her two small children found their way to Los Angeles.
But Kamaria’s journey from violence was not over: Soon after their arrival, her husband began to physically abuse her. Kamaria managed to leave her husband after repeated attempts to stop his violence. Determined to build a peaceful, productive life for herself and her children, Kamaria – again with Anna’s assistance – learned English, returned to school, and earned a nursing degree. Today she has a steady job in a hospital, recently purchased a home, and is proud to be sending her daughter to UCLA. |
The mission of Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) is to provide a gracious welcome and tangible tools for self-sufficiency to refugees newly relocated to the United States. IRIS is sponsored as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
IRIS is a local affiliate of three national voluntary agencies (Episcopal Migration Ministries, Church World Service, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) that act as re-grantors for federal funding.
The second year, the program served over 500 new arrivals – up from just 110 the year before. Last year we received 1348 and this year we anticipate upwards of 1500 refugees in 2008.
The refugees served by Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) come to the United States from all over the world. For over 25 years, IRIS staff have served clients fleeing religious persecution in Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Cuba; war and poverty in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Congo, Vietnam, and the Philippines, Liberia; and other intolerable situations in countries around the globe.
| HOW YOU CAN HELPWe need our churches to help our Refugees find affordable housing, jobs, household items, transportation, and we need volunteers to share expertise in language, financial literacy, legal orientations, child welfare and other topics essential for newcomers to the United States. Specifically, we need your leadership to help us mobilize congregational involvement in the deeply rewarding resettlement work of refugees.
WOULD YOUR CHURCH BE WILLING TO HAVE A NEW ITEM DRIVE TO HELP OUR REFUGEES?
Needs list: Sheet sets of all sizes Twin Blankets Pillows Sets of Towels Pots and Pans Cooking utensils Dishes Silverware Drinking glasses Kitchen linens Clocks |
