Spokane Blog
Creative Solutions for Refugees in South America
Since 2017, Venezuelans have been fleeing the country, escaping a combination of hyperinflation, lack of food and water, and government violence. In response to this large influx of over six million refugees all throughout South America, Colombia and Brazil have adopted unique measures. Instead of resisting immigration, they’ve supported refugees and welcomed them with open…
Read MoreCompassion: Moving into Suffering
Destruction. And hopelessness. Those were the two realities Deb Russell faced everywhere she looked when she deployed to Turkey with Crisis Response International in March. On February 6, 2023, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 hit southeast Turkey near the Syrian border. After the initial earthquake, aftershocks numbering in the thousands continued to rock the region.…
Read MoreRaise Your Hand if You’re a Mama!
By Lisa Zanoni, World Relief Spokane Relationship Manager Raise your hand if you are a mama! Or have a mama. As a mother, or parent, we want our children to be safe and happy. Many of us have made the decision to move away from our family. The reasons are vast: we fall in love;…
Read More10 Books to Read This Summer
Kick-off THE new year by checking out one of these books to read in 2021, recommended by World Relief staff!
Read MoreLeft in Limbo – The State of the Afghan Community after the U.S. Military Withdrawal
On August 15th, 2021, years of preparation came to a close as the United States military began to withdraw from Afghanistan. Intelligence specialists estimated that it would take a minimum of six months for Kabul to be captured by the Taliban. It took them 11 days. Thus began two weeks of chaos. On August 31st,…
Read MoreWhat is the Displacement Crisis?
Today, about 6 million people live in refugee camps. They’ve managed to flee from the risk of persecution in their home country, and now they are forced to wait. Often, conditions in camps are less than subpar. Access to water and healthcare is difficult, and refugees are reduced to living in tents for years —…
Read MoreBEYOND 90 DAYS: Intensive Case Management
By Cade Hajovsky, Fall Intern What Is Intensive Case Management? Not all newly arrived refugees can become self-sufficient and independent in 90 days. Many immigrants need more support. Through our Integration and Wellness department, World Relief provides case management to those struggling to get established. Case managers help clients navigate the health care system, legal…
Read MoreEconomic Empowerment: Immigration and Jobs
World Relief’s goal is to help immigrant families find employment for at least one adult in the first 90 days.
Read More5 Things You Should Know About the Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
Early in the morning on February 6, massive earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria. For many of us who live thousands of miles away from the devastation, it can be hard to imagine the profound scale of loss — and even harder to know how best to respond. And yet, if you’re like us, your faith…
Read MoreOne Year Later: Erika’s Story
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, Erika Symonenko was working as a salesperson for a garage door company. “I went to Germany right after the war started to help some of my family members [who had fled Ukraine].” When she got back, however, she was desperate to do more. Being Part of the…
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