Published April 16, 2007 @ 12:02PM PT

32 members of the International Rescue Committee San Diego Students’ Plus Girls Basketball Team are learning to pivot. At the sound of the whistle, they dribble down the court, stop, look for a teammate, turn and pass. Most wear sneakers. Some prefer to play barefoot. About half have draped jerseys over their long dresses and skirts and tucked their headscarves behind their backs for greater freedom of movement. When a basket is made, the gym erupts with cheers in different languages. Habibo, the unofficial spirit captain, snaps wildly with Henna-ed hands. Sudanese, Ethiopian, Congolese, Somali and Burmese, many of these girls are refugees who fled persecution and war to resettle in the United States with their families. For them, basketball practice isn’t just an after-scho... Read More

Published April 11, 2007 @ 06:46AM PT

The International Rescue Committee is pleased and honored to be nominated for a Webby award for our Web advocacy (like our ongoing campaign to stop violence against women). Starting today through April 27th, you can cast your votes in The Webby People's Voice Awards. Vote for us here and be sure to tell your friends! LINKS Webby Awards: http://www.webbyawards.com/ People's Voice Awards: http://pv.webbyawards.com/account Read More

Published March 23, 2007 @ 12:10PM PT

Help us get more attention and signatures to stop violence against women. Follow this link and vote on our story. With enough votes we'll get a ton more signatures. Our goal is 50,000 and we need your help! http://politics.netscape.com/story/2007/03/23/stop-violence-against-women-and-girls/

Published March 20, 2007 @ 05:20AM PT

We're thrilled to announce that we have a new podcast featuring stories from the field, briefings and other terrific audio (and soon video). Subscribe below via RSS, itunes or by visiting our podcast page: Podcast page link: http://www.theirc.org/resources/podcasts.html View RSS XML - http://theirc.hipcast.com/rss/ircpodcast.xml You can also subscribe via itunes! - http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=219655852

Published March 20, 2007 @ 05:19AM PT

Four years into the war in Iraq, the violence has forced nearly 4 million people from their homes. 50,000 Iraqis are fleeing every month for neighboring Syria, Jordan and Turkey where they must endure unsettled, often squalid, conditions living as refugees. Read more on the IRC Blog ->

Published March 15, 2007 @ 06:03AM PT

EAT DINNER. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. On Sunday, April 29, diners all over the country will come together to take action against the crisis in Darfur. Participating restaurants across the nation have pledged to donate 5% of sales to the International Rescue Committee to support our work in Darfur. Last year's Dining for Darfur raised almost $30,000 for the people of Darfur and this year we hope to double that number. For more information and complete list of restaurants, or to become a participating restaurant, please visit www.diningfordarfur.org

Published February 28, 2007 @ 12:40PM PT

98% interest. That’s how much a Sudanese refugee in San Diego was being charged for a loan that he received from a less-than reputable financing company 10 months ago. He sent the money to his mother in Africa, who was ill and needed the funds to pay for medical care. After repaying nearly $2500 over 10 months, his outstanding principal balance was HIGHER than when he began because he made two late payments. The financing company was taking funds directly out of his barren checking account as soon as any deposits were made, he had lost his job, he was falling behind on his credit card payments, and the bank was about to repossess his car. Read the rest on the official IRC blog

Published February 27, 2007 @ 06:50AM PT

This year, the International Rescue Committee will be working in partnership with Jane Magazine to highlight our gender based violence (GBV) prevention programs to their readers and show them what crimes happen to women around the world. In this month’s Jane (March 2007), you can read about my trip to Liberia with their editor-in-chief, Brandon Holley. Read the entire post and view photos at IRCBlog.org

Published February 22, 2007 @ 12:36PM PT

Feb. 14, 2007 - Today marks one month since I arrived in Darfur. I spend it with some of the 5,000 children the IRC helps across its troubled Western region. We start early for the child friendly spaces – classes are starting -- reminding me of when I was little and ambling to school with lunchbox, backpack and books. I check myself as a little girl passes carrying hers in a trash-bag. These children displaced by the Darfur conflict have lost homes and family members. Some have been separated from their families altogether. In this age of innocence, they've experienced more than adults ever should. Read more on the official IRC Blog>

Published February 17, 2007 @ 01:20PM PT

Hamidiya Camp, Zalingei, Darfur Feb. 13, 2007 Generators hum. Green pipes pulse. Colorful plastic buckets slosh, are balanced on heads and carried away to cooking fires, laundry stations and thirsty animals. Water: source of life and health. It’s something many of us take for granted, but for people displaced by the Darfur conflict and living in sprawling camps, a major focus of life. Just how does the IRC provide water and promote hygiene and sanitation to 36,280 displaced people in Zalingei, West Darfur and an additional 15,000 living in the nearby community? I caught up with Ali, the man who manages its water system, to find out… read more at the official IRC blog