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How does a refugee move forward in a new country? How do they bridge the gaps they face that are necessary for integration into a new place? Most importantly, how do they learn the language fast enough to get a job and be productive in their communities? One ESL program in Virginia's southeast region targeting mothers and children conducts classes over Zoom, offering both language skills and a sense of community for women who are often more isolated.

In partnership with NoVa Friends of Refugees, we have provided a list of the most relevant proposals for the refugee and immigrant communities, organized by policy category, and encourage our local readers to stay updated and contact your representatives for those issues about which you feel strongly. We have found our elected officials' staff to be easy to talk to and, in our experience, responsive to our emails. The Virginia General Assembly is in session until February 27. Call or write today!

Small heart-shaped balloons purchased by a man who knew first hand the indebtedness the recipients would feel allowed receivers at a Christmas donation event to give something in return.

The Story of Our Journey recounts the journey of refugees worldwide through personal experiences of individuals interviewed by Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), and was done in collaboration with Dylan Findley, the composer, and Csaba Jevtic-Somlai, the principle clarinet in the project.

"One is a life. One is a story. One is a tragedy. One is a new start.

One is renewed hope, and one is where we begin again to put our world

back together..."

On World Refugee Day - June 20, 2019, at Hellgate High School, in Missoula, Montana, 435 youth came together for a summer service-learning opportunity directed by TSOS Refugees.

Lubna and Pebble

Sharing books together is one of the quickest and most effective ways to connect with one another. By sharing in great books about refugees, our hope is that you and your children will feel a connection with their experiences and recognize that we are all more similar than we realize.

Maintaining hope in humanity can be difficult in a world filled with contention and distrust, but when four seemingly unrelated people connect by chance to result in the gifting of a car to a newcomer, goodness and brotherhood are reaffirmed.

"Entering and exiting people’s pain is so uncomfortable – by far the worst feeling about crisis work or international development..."

“When we see something wrong we must try and do something about it. Dilek is a doer. You will like her..."