Posts Tagged ‘Refugees’
Moved to Welcome: How Our Church Walked, Biked, and Ran for Refugees
This blog is a guest blog written by volunteer Heather Ipema A mom walks her children to school instead of driving. Two men embark on a 20-mile bike ride. A husband and wife go for a run together after work. What do all of these seemingly disconnected movements have in common? They were intentional and…
Read MoreWorld Relief Laments Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Afghans
World Relief, which has partnered with local churches to welcome thousands of Afghans since the fall of Kabul in 2021, laments this unjust decision and urges the administration to reconsider.
Read MoreBuilding a Future Through English: Igor’s Story
Igor and his wife arrived in the U.S. two years and five months ago, seeking safety and stability after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Back home, Igor had built a successful career—first as a mechanic, then as an IT specialist, and eventually as a department director at a metallurgical plant. Now, in the U.S., he…
Read MoreWelcoming Refugees Starts with You: Walk with someone like Khin Lay
Imagine spending over 15 years in a country that doesn’t legally recognize you. This is the reality for countless refugees around the world, including those in Malaysia, where Khin Lay fled to escape conflict in her home country of Myanmar. Now, after nearly a year in the US, she and her family are building their…
Read MoreA Refugee’s Journey: Seeking Stability in a New Land
When we went from Venezuela to Colombia, we were out in the open air, with practically nothing,” said Maryolga. Trace her journey as a refugee.
Read MoreNavigating Healthcare with Mercy
Navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming. More than once, I’ve stood in front of a huge sign in a medical complex looking over a long list of names and suite numbers trying to find the right office. Sadly, it’s not just medical facilities that feel like an enormous maze, it’s the healthcare and insurance systems…
Read More13 Years of Separation: Now Welcomed Home
After coming to the United States as a refugee, Hodan communicated with her family only through phone calls and WhatsApp for 13 years. Her mother, Safia, and her sisters, Seynab and Yagsir, were 8,000 miles away in eastern Ethiopia. In September 2024, their long separation finally ended. Thanks to your partnership with World Relief Chicagoland’s…
Read MoreSewing & Group Connection: The Story of Amira
Amira* arrived in Chicagoland with a sense of great relief after she and her family fled Afghanistan. “When we first arrived in the U.S., I felt very good and happy. I was so relieved to have made it to the U.S. because we left the war in our country, and we are safe here.” However,…
Read MoreWorld Relief Troubled by Rumors that Trump Administration Will Rescind Guidance Limiting Immigration Enforcement Activities in Churches and other “Sensitive Locations”
World Relief is deeply troubled by recent reporting that the Trump administration is considering revoking guidance that limits the circumstances under which Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) would carry out immigration enforcement activities in churches, schools, hospitals and other “sensitive locations.”
Read MoreWhy We Welcome: The Joy We See
This guest blog is written by Emily Waterman, the Cultural Orientation Coordinator in our Chicago Office The early days quickly passing after a refugee arrives here in Chicago sometimes all blur together. It’s a whirlwind of collaboration for our initial resettlement team as we work to establish new arrivals and provide for their immediate needs.…
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