Inside ARC - 12.16.16 - Syria Emergency

Hello jay, I have an update on the humanitarian situation in Syria. Fighting has destroyed the city of Aleppo, devastating families and causing terrible suffering. It has sent people fleeing – some have evacuated to Turkey while others look for safety in other parts of Syria. Meanwhile fighting continues elsewhere, including near the city of Homs. Our relief teams are there in Homs, receiving thousands of women, children and elderly who have fled the violence and are seeking a safe place.  Please read on to learn about the needs and what we’re doing… Thank you for your continuing support of refugees. -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + The Needs + Our relief teams in Homs are right now receiving families fleeing Aleppo. But rather than the 4,000 people who were supposed to arrive, more than 17,000 have come! They are women, children, elderly and wounded. The team is hustling, their first priority is to find safe shelter for everyone – four walls and a roof to get people out of the freezing rains (it’s currently 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Homs). The refugees in Homs need everything. Some have arrived wounded and need medical attention. To keep warm through the winter night, they need blankets, generators, 800 heaters, 700 propane gas tanks, and plastic sheeting. Most fled with nothing so they need food(rice, oil, flour, beans) and pots, pans and cookstoves to prepare the food. And of course, they’ll need clean water, hygiene items, toilet buckets and more. This is what is needed now, urgently. They’ll need additional support in the coming weeks. + What We're Doing + Our teams are on the ground in Homs and focused on getting families settled in safe locations as soon as possible. They’re looking for shelters that, although very basic, will provide families some protection. And they’re locating whatever medical and relief supplies and food they can get into the city and to these refugee families.  The team is also working to winterize shelters that house refugee families in Homs and throughout Syria before the bitter winter cold finally sets in. Providing extra blankets and mattresses, sealing up walls and windows to keep out the wind and cold, the team is upgrading these buildings that were not originally intended for living quarters. + 2016 Donations + There’s just two weeks left for those in the United States to make 2016 tax-deductible donations. This year has been a very challenging year for refugees, and we’ve been so grateful for the generous support the ARC community has given to help families from Syria to South Sudan.  If you haven’t had a chance to make a donation this year but you’d like to, you can give online now at: www.ARCrelief.org/give . Or to support our team in Syria, give at www.ARCrelief.org/donatesyria . Or visit www.arcrelief.org/ways-of-giving/ to see a variety of ways to give and support ARC and our work with refugees around the world.

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Inside ARC - 11.2.16 - Responding for South Sudanese

Hello jay, Thank you for being a part of ARC. We couldn’t do this without you!   We have several exciting things happening in and around ARC right now that I’d like to share with you, including a first of its kind event in Uganda. The event took place in Kampala, where we honored refugee youth from Nakivale Refugee Settlement who had brilliant ideas for how to make our world a better place. I was honored to meet those youth and the hundreds of other Ugandans and influencers who gathered there. Read more below.  And as always, thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + Intervention in Gulu, Uganda for South Sudanese Refugees + The past several months have been difficult for the people of South Sudan. Besieged by surges of violence and political instability, thousands of South Sudanese have fled their country, many of them seeking refuge in neighboring countries. In response to this crisis, we’re sending teams to Gulu in northern Uganda to better understand the situation and see what we can do to help. Stay tuned for more updates on this intervention. + Gala in Kampala, Uganda, to Honor Refugee Youth + On Friday October 21st, we did something we’ve never done before – we hosted a large-scale gala in one of our country programs! And, it was a huge success. In Kampala, we joined Ugandan Leaders and ARC staff from around the globe to honor 13 refugee youth from Nakivale Refugee Settlement who are showing us what it is like to dream big and believe you can be a Changemaker. These 13 refugees were the winners of a youth ideas competition we held in Nakivale. Many special guests celebrated with us that night, including refugee Olympians, the Ugandan business community, the Office of the Prime Minister, and more. It was truly an incredible night – I felt privileged to be there.   The 13 winners of the youth ideas competition are all smiles as they receive their awards at the Changemakers Gala in Kampala.   + What I'm buying: The Maker's Collection + I can't tell you how excited we are for this year's Maker's Collection. Are you familiar with it? It all began a few years ago when our staff sat down with some of the most sought after U.S.-based artisans to design a custom, limited collection of gifts. The gifts really are stunning, and what's more, each purchase goes directly toward supporting ARC' programs around the world. You can view the entire collection and pre-order here: www.shopmakers.org. I'll be shopping the Collection for the holidays – I’ve personally got my eye on this Woven Thai Necktie by Mill City Fineries. The Collection will officially launch at ARC's annual Changemakers Ball on December 2nd! Get tickets here: http://www.changemakersball.org/  + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC - 10.6.16 - Heroes in Aleppo, Afghan Refugee Students

Hello jay, Thank you for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible!  This month I’ve been finding inspiration in many forms – from within ARC and in other people and places around the world. I wanted to share some of these inspirations with you. Take a look below.  Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + Everyday Heroes Saving Lives in Aleppo, Syria + As aid convoys from the UN struggle to reach Aleppo, a city under siege for so long, the situation can sometimes seem hopeless. I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely not. Right now, our teams in Syria are in Aleppo, providing critically needed food support to people living on the brink. They’re truly the everyday heroes of this crisis, working behind the scenes to save every life they can. I simply cannot understate how inspiring I find them to be. If you'd like to support the team, you can do so here. + Afghan Refugee Youth Achieving the Extraordinary + One of the things that most inspired me is something our Country Director in Pakistan, Tariq Cheema, shared with me.  It’s a photo of 120 young medical students taking their term exam in Islamabad. They’re a part of our medical training program for young Afghan refugees in Pakistan. What’s extraordinary about this photo is that in many ways, these students could be any group of young people around the world – steadfastly concentrating, ties loosened, bent over their papers. But this image also represents a hopeful future for some of the most marginalized communities in the country. They’ll return to their homes – as medical assistants, pathologists, radiologists – and pursue a life of opportunity, a future with potential. (This program is made possible with funding from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. State Department.)  Afghan refugee youth, enrolled in ARC's one year medical technicians program, sit their term exams.   + A Deeply Beautiful Story + I recently watched a truly moving Ted talk, one that I wanted to share with you. It’s by a fellow named Martin Pistorius - a man who reminds us that people are truly wondrous. His is a story about people finding the unique and beautiful gift they have to give, despite the odds.  In many ways, Martin echoes some of the things that refugees say about feeling nonexistent, explaining that he felt “completely powerless to change anything in my life.” Yet simple acts of kindness and fleeting moments of human connection transformed his life and allowed him to keep going. I hope you find this as incredible as I do.  https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_pistorius_how_my_mind_came_back_to_life_and_no_one_knew#t-716132 + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC 8.25.16 - Celebrating World Humanitarian Day

Hello jay, Thank you for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible! Here's the latest update on what we're up to. Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + World Humanitarian Day + Last Friday, we celebrated World Humanitarian Day with our teams around the world. Each and every day our staff work in challenging environments to bring quality service to those who need it most. From being the largest distributor of food on the streets of Aleppo, Syria to being one of the first NGOs to operate inside Mogadishu, Somalia, we are continuously amazed by the energy and empathy of our staff. They work tirelessly in ever-changing crises. We asked our teams “In three words what does humanitarianism mean to you?”  Here are some of the responses we received: “Sacrifice, passion and patience.” – Abdiqafar, Somalia “Humility in service.” – Jacques, Rwanda “Always ready to help.” – Mama Jose, DRC “Dignity. Love. Giving life.” – Arafa, Sudan We also wanted to thank YOU! As an ARC supporter, you make it possible for us to reach the most difficult places. You are our partner in this work and a true humanitarian yourself. Thank you for standing by us.  Staff in Jordan write messages of encouragement to colleagues in Syria and Sudan + Nakivale Child Protection Office Makeover + Our team in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda is finding out what is possible with a little resource and a lot of creativity. They’ve been hard at work brainstorming what can be done with just $500 and a mentality of doing the doable. Across Nakivale, you can see these small changes that are making a big difference. The ARC Child Protection Office stands out with its freshly painted exterior. Walk inside and you will see an even more colorful space, filled with toys and cartoon-painted walls. It’s all about creating an environment where kids feel safe to share and where they may even play while their parents receive information, counseling and guidance next door at the counseling center. The office now offers a refreshing change from what it once was. And, the excitement of the team is palpable. By looking beyond their limitations, they were able to bring new value to the people we serve. Harriet shows off the newly updated Child Protection Office in Nakivale + Groundbreaking on 3rd Asili Zone + Asili, our social enterprise in Eastern DRC is expanding once again! We launched the first zone in July 2014 in rural Buhanga. This past March, we launched a second zone in a semi-rural area. And now, this summer, we’ve broken ground on our third Asili zone. Each Asili location is being tested in a different economic setting. Located in Mudaka, this zone will service a busy market town that sees frequent car and foot traffic. Set to open this November, the third zone will bring a clinic, rehabilitated water system and agricultural cooperative to Mudaka.  Construction on the third Asili zone in Mudaka   + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC 8.8.16 - Former Refugee Travels to Jordan to Meet Syrian Refugees, Organic Gardening in Pakistan and 2016 Changemakers Competition

Hello jay, Thank you so much for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible! Here's the latest update on what we're up to. Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + Lost Boy Meets Survivors of the current Global Refugee Crisis + Over the past few months, we’ve sent teams out to Uganda, Kenya, Germany, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece to talk with refugees from Syria but also refugees from around the world. We wanted to see firsthand the complexity of this crisis and listen to the stories of those who are experiencing it every day of their lives. We had a conversation with David Acuoth who joined our team in Jordan. David is a former refugee from Sudan and was resettled in the US as part of the Lost Boys and Girls Resettlement Program. He earned his master’s degree in Minnesota and now lives in Washington D.C. working as a Congressional Staffer.  When reflecting on his trip, David noted, “The biggest takeaway from this trip is that we need to rethink how we do things. How we help refugees.” He had the chance to speak to many Syrian refugees and said, “It was amazing to me that this experience that I had, when I was in a very dark place, can now help someone else get out of that dark place. This moment doesn’t have to define the rest of their lives.”  You can read more about David’s experience here.  + Organic Gardening in Pakistan + In Pakistan, students in our education program have been exercising their green thumb. They’ve been learning to use organic growing methods for fruits and vegetables on the land surrounding the school. From seed sowing through to harvesting, the students grew a hearty crop of squash. The gardening activity taught the students that using their current surroundings can earn them extra pocket money and help them provide healthy food for their family. Young students show off their success in gardening + Changemakers Idea Competition + After weeks of idea submissions, we have come to the close of this year’s Changemakers Competition. It's an ideas competition with our staff around the world. We ask one simple question and provide the platform for their ideas to pour in.  In one simple way, how can I make the people I serve feel more valued, joyful or powerful? This year, we received over 1,600 ideas from our global staff! It's been the biggest year yet with over 3 times as many ideas as last year! This year we saw more energy than ever before - teams around the world gathered for ideation sessions, shared ideas and photos via WhatsApp and encouraged each other on ARC social media. From the beaches of Kismayo to the jungles of Thailand, we were so inspired to see ideas from each and every one of our country programs. We are excited by this incredible growth and can't wait to share some of the ideas with you. Follow the action in the coming weeks as we preview the Top Ten ideas here.  ARC staff after an ideas session in Kismayo, Somalia   + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC 7.22.16 - Fighting Malaria in Myanmar, Welcoming New Head of Global Operations

Hello jay, Thank you so much for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible! Here's the latest update on what we're up to. Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + VIDEO: Fighting Malaria in Myanmar + For many years, Myanmar was a closed country shut off from the rest of the world. As the country evolves, so too does their approach to public health. ARC has been working side by side in a unique partnership with the Myanmar government and local ethnic organizations to carry out a 5-year plan aimed to stop the spread of drug-resistant malaria.  In close collaboration with The Global Fund, ARC runs community health posts that are strategically placed to reach migrant workers along the Thai-Myanmar border. Operated by highly-skilled ARC staff, these outposts are changing the outlook for migrant workers and the surrounding communities. The number of malaria cases has drastically decreased. This means more kids in school, more migrant workers able to continue work and healthier, more resilient communities overall. Watch this short video to learn more about this life-changing collaboration: http://bit.ly/1UvpNwX + Introducing John Griffith, New Head of Global Operations + ARC is thrilled to announce our new Head of Global Operations, John Griffith. John will lead our 11 country program teams in further strengthening ARC’s value proposition to refugees and donors by ensuring high quality service delivery, increasing efficiency, and upholding ARC’s brand promise. John has joined ARC after over two decades of experience in property development at the executive level of Target and Ryan Construction. Prior to taking the position, John traveled to ARC programs in East Africa to become familiar with ARC programs. “Sitting around a table with really bright, smart people solving complicated problems is what gets me going. It’s what I enjoy most - working on complicated, multiple projects over vast areas of the globe,” John stated. During his time at Target, John has led a geographically dispersed team of over 3,000 employees. With his many years and depth of experience, we are excited to have John on our leadership team. + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC 7.7.16 - Changemakers Competition, Coming Home to Somalia, In-Camp Economies

Hello jay, Thank you so much for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible! Here's the latest update on what we're up to. Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + Coming Home to Somalia + “Mixed thoughts of fear and hope crisscrossed my mind,” says Malyun Rashid about her return home to Somalia after nearly 20 years in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya. Malyun is among others who find themselves taking the step to return home after years living as a refugee in one of the world’s largest refugee camps. ARC is there alongside them to help ease the journey, providing paid skills training in the camp that link to livelihood opportunities upon their return to Kismayo. Malyun took part in a three month training where she learned how to make fishing nets and received a stipend which she saved for her move. “When I returned from Ifo camp-Dadaab I was really skeptical of the future but now with God’s grace and the help from ARC I see light at the end of the tunnel,” said Malyun. Malyun Rashid returns home to Somalia with the help of ARC + Launch of the 2016 Changemakers Competition + It's that time of year again! We have launched our fourth annual Changemakers Award Competition. It's an ideas competition with our staff around the world. We ask one simple question and provide the platform for their ideas to pour in.  In one simple way, how can I make the people I serve feel more valued, joyful or powerful? Each year, we've seen the competition grow. Last year over 500 ideas were submitted! We can't wait to see the momentum continue and share these amazing ideas with you! Stay tuned over the next months as we narrow it down to the Top Ten finalists and finally announce the 2016 Changemaker Award Winner in mid-September.   + ARC Rwanda Boosts In-Camp Economies + ARC has worked in Rwanda for more than 20 years helping communities that have lost everything rebuild resilience. So many are unable to return home and thus, creating a vibrant in-camp economy is a critical step in moving forward. ARC Rwanda’s livelihood programs are built to do just that. We offer access to grants, microloans, financial literacy coaching, small business management and co-operative saving and loan associations.  “We can really see how our approach is transforming the in-camp economy and the state of entrepreneurship and business among the refugees. More businesses pop up and our continuous support systems of coaching, guiding and training push people towards more and more self-reliance,” said Esperance Uwimana, ARC’s Technical Advisor on Livelihoods.  In Nyabiheke camp, the economic boost can be seen as you walk down the busiest street. Cooperatives and small shops line the street. The Abadacogora basket weaving cooperative sells to customers both inside and outside the camp. With support from ARC, the members of this cooperative plan to apply for a loan allowing them to increase production and fill the increasing demand for their popular products.  + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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"...how to overcome disappointment and fear"

Hello jay, Tharangi Cumaranatunge, ARC’s Finance Controller and Turkey team member  In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’m sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to refugees who are living in the reality of the Global Refugee Crisis.  The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Tharangi Cumaranatunge, who visited refugees in Turkey. Tharangi is the Finance Controller at ARC and is based in Minneapolis. -Daniel ******************************************************* What was the most surprising thing you learned on this trip? I was surprised at the contrasting lenses with which I saw this crisis unraveling. I didn’t anticipate the empathy and admiration that I would feel for host communities in Turkey who are trying to do the right thing by everyone. For example, we met a Turkish man in a seaside town called Bodrum whose livelihood in tourism had been badly affected by the crisis. Despite his reservations, he felt a deep empathy toward refugees and the struggles they’re going through. He, and other Turkish people we met, were stepping up and embracing the idea that regardless of the political complications, these are human beings going through great suffering, and that we can and should do what we can to help them. They were acutely aware that they were witness to something unprecedented, and how they responded in this moment in time would define their own humanity. I felt for this man and his community, and admired his resolution to retain his compassion for others. This is a complicated situation for everyone involved with often conflicting viewpoints. But, it’s less complicated if you see refugees as mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, as people with stories of their own.  Who was the most inspiring person that you met? Why? Probably the most inspiring person I met in Turkey was a young Syrian named Mahmoud, whose resilience and courage was amazing.  He’s the kind of guy who could make it anywhere. Mahmoud is the oldest of eight children – five of his siblings are with him in Turkey, and his two youngest siblings, are still with his parents, stuck inside Syria. He told me that he wakes up every morning gripped with fear of what might happen to his folks back in Syria. He is not frightened for himself he tells me. He’s tried to make it to Greece seven times by boat, each journey a treacherous one that has almost cost him his life. He persists because he feels responsible for his family, for helping them to survive. He has embraced his present life in Turkey and is busy making a living to support his family and is also actively involved with an organization that supports Syrian refugee families in Turkey, spreading hope for the future and extending goodwill to all those he comes across. He has figured out how to overcome disappointment and fear and to rise above it all, by serving others who’s needs are greater than his own. In this way he has made a life for himself. Despite all the uncertainties that the future holds, he gets back on his feet – for his family – time and time again.  Assuming no barriers, if you could do or change one thing for the refugees you met, what would it be and why?  People feel like their voices are lost – like they’re part of a nameless crowd, not individuals. Like they’re just a number. I couldn’t help thinking, how might we change that? I would love to create a way where the abundance of people who want to help – like the Turkish people we met, the international volunteers, and the global community at large - could get connected on an individual, people to people basis to help those who need it most. The child, the sister, the brother – their needs are different, so it’s difficult to have one blanket approach. In a perfect world, I would create a smart and effective way to retain the individualism and humanness of each person and still connect people in a meaningful way.    [stay tuned this week for more conversations: http://www.arcrelief.org/wrdqanda] Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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"We didn't expect to live this life..."

Hello jay, Reem Khamis, ARC’s Protection Technical Advisor and Greece team member  In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’m sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to refugees who are living in the reality of the Global Refugee Crisis.  The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Reem Khamis, who was a part of the Greece team. Reem is ARC’s Protection Technical Advisor, based at our headquarters in Minneapolis.  -Daniel ******************************************************* What is it like to be a refugee in Greece? What are the biggest obstacles that people face?  Refugees had high hopes that as soon as they reach Greece, a member of the EU, their suffering will end and they’ll be able to start a new life. The refugees we met were unanimously disappointed in how things turned out for them in Greece. “We didn’t expect to live this life in Europe” is something refugees told us quite often.  Refugees are currently hosted in transit sites across Greece with very poor humanitarian standards. In one of the refugee sites we visited, which used to be a military camp located in the middle of a forest, refugees were very afraid of snakes and wild pigs, both of which have been seen in the camp. If you could do or change one thing today for the refugees that you met, what would it be?  Refugees lack information about their status in Greece. There is much confusion around how long they will be staying in a specific transit site or in the country in general, what prospects they have in obtaining refugee status in Greece, or their ability to further continue their journey to Germany or Sweden.  If there is one thing I could change for refugees in Greece today, I would make sure that they have access to accurate, precise, and comprehensive information about their rights and options - whether it is seeking asylum in Greece, returning to their countries of origin, or being resettled in other European countries. I would also make sure that such information is provided in all refugee spoken languages including Arabic, Farsi and Urdu. How are Greeks dealing with the crisis? What kinds of responses did you see?   We had the chance to work closely with an amazing national Greek organization as well as different groups of international volunteers who were highly driven and motivated to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to refugees. Most of these individuals were responding to the needs of refugees alone, had no previous experience, and were introduced by ARC to international humanitarian principles for the first time.    [stay tuned this week for more conversations: http://www.arcrelief.org/wrdqanda] Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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"Reweaving the relationship fabric..."

Hello jay, Curt Rhodes, Founder & International Director, Questscope  In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’m sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to refugees who are living in the reality of the Global Refugee Crisis.  The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Curt Rhodes, who traveled to Germany, Greece, and Turkey. Curt is the Founder and International Director of Quetscope, ARC’s partner organization in the Middle East. ARC and Questscope underwent an official merger in 2015.  -Daniel ***************************************************************** How would you describe what you saw on this trip? Shattered is the only way I can find to describe it – shattered communities, families, and relationships. The most overwhelming casualty for people forced to become refugees is to find themselves suddenly as survivors with everything familiar ripped away. Everything gone. Changed. Total dependence on others for food, water, shelter, safety. No choices. No friends. The shock of the gut-wrenching loss of relationships is absolutely devastating. Visible effects - homelessness, friendlessness, hunger - are compounded by invisible effects - fear, helplessness, emotions - that tear at their very sense of feeling that they are human beings.  How did your past experiences with Syrians affect the goals of this trip? I have a long history of relationships in Syria dating back to 1982.  And now, hundreds of these friends are scattered across the globe. My goal was to be with them, to pick up relationship threads, and assure them that they are not forgotten. We believe in them, even if they find it hard to believe in themselves. As an organization, we're in a unique position at this time. We did not appear only in this crisis - we have been there all along. And we want to be part of reweaving the relationship fabric that will sustain Syrians in the uncertain futures each of them face. Was there anything you saw or experienced that inspired hope? In this crisis, there are countless tragic stories. But there are also countless individuals in whom we can invest. For example, we met with the most delightful Syrian refugee (a PhD from MIT) with whom we hope to design educational programs for the tens of thousands of Syrian refugee children and youth who will have no education otherwise. We've been connecting with so many individuals and groups like this. People who want to make sure everyone has water, food, and medicine. People who want to give special attention to women, girls, and boys who have lost all means of support. The more we can give support to these people and work alongside Syrians trying to rebuild - the more hopeful their future becomes.    [stay tuned this week for more conversations: http://www.arcrelief.org/wrdqanda] Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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"People are people are people"

Hello jay, Stacy Barnes, Human Centered Designer and Jordan team member In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’ll be sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to refugees who are living in the reality of the Global Refugee Crisis.  The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Stacy Barnes, who traveled with us to Jordan. Stacy is a human centered designer who consulted with American Refugee Committee, helping us shape the questions we asked, and understand what we might do with the answers we received.  -Daniel ***************************************************************** Can you tell us about a certain individual, story, or something that you saw that particularly moved you? On one trip to Jordan I visited a man whose family had experienced extreme terror and suffering. Yet, I was incredibly moved that he insisted upon only engaging in positive uplifting conversation. Not because he didn’t want or need someone to hear his story but because we were his guests and with guests you talk about happy things and make sure they enjoy their visit. He and his family were dressed in their best clothes and offered us glass after glass of special tea reserved for honorable guests. He wanted nothing from us but to been seen and remembered as proud, upstanding citizens – not people to be pitied. He wanted us to remember his family as people filled with pride, care, and concern for others. I absolutely will. How has this experience changed the way you look at this crisis and your life back in the U.S.? I have always believed people are people are people. Regardless of where you live or the background you come from there are fundamental truths that we all share. Talking with asylum seekers and refugees who had to leave their homes, their professions, and much of their identity behind, this truth has never been more clear. When faced with tragedy you need someone to feel with. When reduced to the memory of what used to be, you need a purpose to keep you going. And when you feel dependent on charity, you want the assurance and the ability to provide for yourself. What was the most inspiring thing you saw, or most inspiring person that you met? I am inspired by the small things individuals use to make progress towards relief. A man offering to go to counseling with his wife, a woman who began a sewing business to make up the family income, a young girl finding a safe, trusted place to play outside of her home. These examples are achievable in the face of so many things that are not, and it's inspiring to work with people to try and provide even more of those opportunities.   [stay tuned this week for more conversations: http://www.arcrelieforg/wrdqanda] Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Today is For Refugees

Hello jay, Today is World Refugee Day. Established in 2000 by the UN General Assembly and celebrated since 2001, this day for many years has gone relatively unnoticed by the general public. For refugees themselves though, World Refugee Day has meant a time to celebrate their heritage. A time to keep traditions alive, and to relive - even for a short time – how things used to be. A celebration not on the world stage, but largely in the refugee camps themselves.  But this year, unlike in many years past, refugee issues are making headlines. People have been talking about the refugee crisis like never before. And with 60 million displaced people around the world, many of them trying desperately to find a home on foreign shores, it is a crisis that can no longer be ignored.  This World Refugee Day, we’re taking some time to bring you stories from around the world. From people who have recently dug deeper into the crisis and talked with Syrian refugees who are searching – too often in vain – for a place to call home.  Over the past few months, we’ve sent teams out to Uganda, Kenya, Germany, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece to talk with refugees from Syria but also refugees from around the world.  I joined the Germany and Greece teams. We wanted to see firsthand the complexity of this crisis and listen to the stories of those who are experiencing it every day of their lives.  I was personally struck by the Syrian refugees I met in both Germany and Greece who, upon reaching those countries and experiencing the terribly inadequate living conditions there, told me that if they had known what they were escaping to they would never have left war-torn Syria. To me, that is tragic.  In honor of World Refugee Day, over the course of this week I’ll be sharing with you conversations I had with four of our team members who traveled across the globe to speak to people who are living in the reality of the crisis. Their experiences were at once deeply moving, surprising, and inspiring. I’m looking forward to sharing their insights so that you too will get a glimpse into the lives of these refugees - their hopes, and their dreams.  As we commemorate World Refugee Day, let us all take a moment to reflect on all the good that’s already been done, the long road ahead, and the amazing potential we have to be more fully human to one another. -Daniel   Daniel Wordsworth President & CEO American Refugee Committee Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Inside ARC 6.9.16 - 4 Stars

Hello jay, Thank you so much for being a part of ARC. People like you make our work possible! Here's the latest update on what we're up to. Thank you so much for your continuing support.   -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  + American Refugee Committee Gets 4 Stars! + For the fifth time in a row, ARC has attained the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency! The 4-star rating is the highest possible rating – only 6% of the organizations evaluated by Charity Navigator, the leading industry evaluator in America, have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations. We're on a roll! + World Refugee Day + Monday, June 20 is World Refugee Day. It's a day to celebrate the incredible resiliency of human beings who've survived and thrived through terrible adversity but to also reflect on the global refugee crisis – and how the world is failing a large number of its citizens in their time of greatest vulnerability.  Over the last couple of months, ARC has sent teams out to talk to the world's newest refugees, hear from them what their lives are like, and better understand how what it means to be a refugee is changing. Starting on World Refugee Day, we'll share with you some of what we heard and what's happening. + Bringing Water and Building Communities in South Darfur, Sudan + In South Darfur, Sudan, years of conflict have torn communities apart. Even the very infrastructures of villages have been destroyed, including boreholes where families access water – one of the first things that need to be rebuilt before communities can begin again.  Our water rehabilitation project in Gereida, South Darfur was Designed and implemented by ARC Senior WASH Coordinator Adam Abaker Zakaria Defaa. The rehabilitation project was a huge success – it made access to water possible for 15,000 men, women and children. We trained community operators and equipped them with tool kits for repair and maintenance of the water yards, empowering communities to continue this vital resource independently.  Almost immediately after water was made available, a school opened nearby. Teachers at the school explained that because water is available for the children, they're able to teach again. And, since the rehabilitation began, safe drinking water been consistently available for everyone.  + Engage + We're sharing photos, video and stories on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief Donate! --- http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate   Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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