The IRC began resettling refugees in Charlottesville, Virginia, in June 1998, in large part because of the low local unemployment rate and entry level job opportunities, but also because of strong community interest and volunteer support. The office now resettles approximately 150 refugees per year in the area. Strongly believing in the capacity of refugees to quickly assume productive lives and to participate in the civic fabric of our community, IRC staff counsel refugees from the moment of arrival that the “American Dream” of home ownership and education for their children is within reach.

IRC Charlottesville has implemented programming to ensure that refugees have support in reaching early self-sufficiency, becoming naturalized citizens, reaching financial security and restoring a sense of hope for the future. We have witnessed time and again the transformation of a family who arrived at our airport with virtually no belongings, went to work within months and saved money faster than we thought possible. Our clients go on to start businesses, buy homes and send their children to college.

June 20th World Refugee Day

Every year on June 20 the world honors the courage, resilience and strength of refugees.  On this eigth anniversary of the United Nations-designated World Refugee Day, thousands of organizations in hundreds of countries will come together to focus global attention not only on the plight of refugees and the causes of their exile, but also on their determination and will to survive and on the contributions they make to their host communities. 

In Charlottesville, in honor of World Refugee Day, the International Rescue Committee will present the sixth annual Employer Leadership Award to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which owns and operates Monticello.  The home of Thomas Jefferson has hired refugees since 2005 and continues to offer employees a living wages, excellent benefits, and a working environment that provides opportunity for professional development.

Donate Now. Your support allows our work to continue. For more information, please contact Courtney Cook at charlottesville@theIRC.org or 434.979.7772 ext. 114.