Posts by worldrelief
Change Disrupts, But Love Still Grows
It’s been a year of difficult change. But at World Relief, we believe you were made for change — not just to survive it, but to thrive through it.In today’s story, World Relief’s Vice President of U.S. Programs, Jennifer Foy, shares how amidst this year’s disruption, creativity, resilience and love still grew.
Recently, I was reading stories from our U.S. offices when I came across this one about two brothers who had been resettled by World Relief in Chicago seven years ago. They dreamed of opening up a tailor shop together, and that dream finally became a reality — in January, mere months ahead of the COVID-19 shutdown.
Faced with this new reality, the brothers wondered if their business would survive. But then, local residents started appearing at their shop – many of whom were immigrants themselves – in desperate search of masks.
Most stores were already sold out, and online shops were selling the masks at prices much higher than what these residents could afford. As such, the brothers knew what they had to do. They pivoted their business and began making masks, finding success and even fulfilling orders from other cities and states.
Change disrupts. But that disruption can bring new perspective.
This past March, when everything seemed to change overnight, I, too, wondered what the future would hold. After three difficult years of policy changes, office closures and a diminishing number of refugees being admitted into the United States, our U.S. teams were ready for something new.
But then, COVID-19 hit. Our offices began shutting their doors, staff moved to remote work and we began redesigning our services to meet new needs.
In the early weeks, the rapid change felt like a tsunami, crashing in and overtaking every part of our work and lives. This sudden change felt like another cruel blow to our teams working so hard to share Christ’s love, as well as to those we serve working hard to integrate into their communities.
Once I finally slowed down to catch my breath and take a step back, I realized God was inviting me into a new perspective. As I looked around at all the pain, sickness and unknown, I saw that beneath the chaos, resilience existed.
I began hearing stories just like the one above from across our U.S. network. Burmese refugees in North Carolina were making masks for their community, as were World Relief sewing program participants in Spokane and Seattle. A refugee restaurant owner in California began donating meals to frontline workers. Everywhere I looked creativity, strength, persistence, fierce courage and love grew amidst the chaos of our upturned world.
Among our offices, innovation flourished. Staff and community partners found new ways to serve in a COVID environment. In-person programs such as ESL classes, job training seminars and summer camps all moved online. Volunteer trainings also became virtual, opening up new pathways for people across the country to volunteer, whether they lived near a physical office or not.
When businesses began shutting down and our immigrant communities began experiencing lay-offs, our staff learned new skills and volunteers stepped up to help immigrant business owners navigate the Cares Act Relief and fill out unemployment paperwork.Â
Church partners also stepped in in new ways, allowing us to meet an immediate need for food. Across our U.S. office network, more than $1.5 million in food was donated and distributed, allowing us to serve over 42,000 families. Our North Texas office alone received $997,000 in food donations for immigrant families in need.
While I am looking forward to the end of COVID, I have seen new doors open and have been forever changed by the love shown in this season.
As we look to the year ahead, I see new strength in our communities — in immigrants who have learned to use technology to help them stay connected; staff who have renewed confidence that they can, with God’s help, move mountains; and a growing diversity within our communities of people from all walks of life stepping up to serve.
Change disrupts, but in that disruption we found hope and overwhelming amounts of love. We gained a new perspective and found an opportunity to rewrite the narrative of 2020 and make change for good.
Will you help us make change for good ?
Jennifer Foy joined World Relief in 2007 as a volunteer in serving many refugee families before joining the staff in 2014. She served in the High Point North Carolina Triad office until April 2019 when she moved to World Relief’s headquarters in Baltimore to take on a national role. In her current role she oversees the program management and development across all U.S. network of offices. She brings 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience leading local nonprofits. Jennifer grew up in Oregon and received a B.A. Sociology from Western Oregon University and later a M.P.A. from Norwich University in Vermont. She lives in Maryland with her husband Will.
25,000 Christians Urge Ivanka Trump to Protect Unaccompanied Minors in Danger of Trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico Border
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
October 13, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – 25,000 Christians have joined World Relief, Women of Welcome, and other leading evangelical institutions in petitioning Ivanka Trump to protect vulnerable children at risk of trafficking due to the suspension of key protections under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).
Through an effort organized by Women of Welcome, the 25,000th signature came just days before the 20th anniversary of the signing of the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the nation’s foremost anti-trafficking law, which passed after significant advocacy from evangelical Christians.
The original letter sent on August 24th, 2020, included signatories from leaders at World Relief, International Justice Mission, World Vision U.S., Bethany Christian Services, the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and various other evangelical institutions. These leaders have voiced their concern to senior presidential advisor Ivanka Trump because she has been among the most vocal anti-trafficking and child protection advocates within the administration. In the intervening month and a half, tens of thousands of Americans have added their voices petitioning for the reinstatement of these protections that were halted in March due to concerns over the potential spread of COVID-19.
Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, commented, “It’s been eight months since COVID-19 gained momentum in the U.S. and key child-protection elements of TVPRA were initially suspended at the border. While the administration has resumed normal activities in many sectors of public life, operations that could mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable children have not been resumed. The threat of trafficking does not diminish during a pandemic. If anything, it accelerates. The U.S. is overdue in our responsibility to care for the vulnerable within our purview.”
The TVPRA requires that unaccompanied minors detained at the border be entrusted to the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees a network of care partners that includes many faith-based nonprofits.
“As a mother, I cannot imagine treating children in the negligent way these children at the border continue to be treated,” said Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome. “This isn’t an immigration issue, it’s a child safety issue. As an American, I cannot believe the country I love, which claims to be a haven to the weary and needy of the world, is intentionally turning a blind eye to this horrifying practice. And as a Christian, our failure to love and advocate for these vulnerable people is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus.”
To read the letter, click here. Women of Welcome, a movement of evangelical women supported by World Relief, invites concerned Christians to add their names to the letter.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
###
About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
About Women of Welcome:
Women of Welcome is a community dedicated to diving into the whole of Scripture to understand God’s heart for the immigrant and refugee.
Learn more at womenofwelcome.com.
World Relief Congratulates the UN’s World Food Programme for Winning Global Peace Prize
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
October 12, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – World Relief, a global humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and respond to disasters worldwide, congratulates the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) for winning the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 9, 2020. This award is well deserved for an organization that has saved millions of lives around the world and for its ongoing efforts to fight hunger in regions of conflict and hardship around the world.
The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. Last year, it provided assistance to almost 100 million people in 88 countries. World Relief partners with the World Food Programme in several countries in Africa, including Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through this partnership, World Relief has reached over 203,000 individuals in communities across Sudan and South Sudan in 2020 alone.
“The World Food Programme is absolutely deserving of the renowned and prestigious Nobel Peace Prize,” said Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. “The global problem of hunger is getting worse around the world, as are the conflicts that exacerbate it. That’s why the UN’s work through WFP is extremely valuable and crucial today. We at World Relief have worked with the WFP through several projects and have always been impressed with their professionalism, effectiveness, and compassion in helping the most vulnerable in some of the most dangerous and dire places in the world.”
World Relief partners with churches and community leaders around the world to help alleviate poverty and world hunger. Through its programs such as Agriculture for Life and and Savings For Life, they are able to help thousands of people who may not have access to food or the means to survive. Organizational partnerships such as World Relief and the World Food Programme are critical to reaching the most vulnerable and have proven that humanitarian collaboration is an impactful way to alleviate world hunger and poverty.
To learn more about World Relief, visit: https://worldrelief.org/
Download a PDF version of this press release here.
###
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
Made for Change
Change isn’t easy.
I can’t even begin to count how many times we’ve said that phrase over the last eight months at World Relief. When I think back to March, when our offices across the globe began closing their doors due to shelter-in-place orders, it feels like another lifetime entirely.
Like many of you, we felt the blow of loss and the weight of uncertainty as the virus made its way around the globe. We prayed, we grieved, we sought reason to hope, and together, we leaned in to ask God what he might have for us in the midst of all the disruption.
Just when we thought we might be able to adjust to these new pandemic realities, the tragic murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd made national headlines. Calls for justice and reform swept across our nation in ways we haven’t experienced in many years. Faced with these current realities, I found myself evaluating my own blindspots in the fight for racial justice, lamenting the health of our nation and the division that continues today.
2020 has indeed ushered us into new levels of difficulty and uncertainty.
When we consider the enormity of these disruptions, the weight and even powerlessness found in this chaotic year, it can be difficult to access the spiritual energy we need to be a positive agent for change.
Many of us want to be part of the change, but are so drained we cannot carry it out. In the midst of this weariness and confusion, we may be tempted to turn away, to throw up our hands and say, “There’s just no use! Nothing I do will matter anyway.”
Others of us may be tempted to rush back to what feels normal — to prematurely begin putting our lives back together so things can get on just the way they were. But might there be another way?
Perhaps true peace and true change comes not in avoiding the weight of disruption or scrambling back to an old sense of normal, but in accessing the divine resources God has for us once our human store has run out.
King David spoke to this often in the Psalms as he cried out to God for renewal. David — a man familiar with life’s rapid and sometimes painful changes — did not shy away from his discomfort. Instead, he faced it, bringing it honestly to God.
In the opening verses of Psalm 69, David wrote:
“Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.”
He continues in verse 16:
“Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.”
Like David, we are invited to cry out to God in this same way, laying our fear, our confusion, our anger and even our own shortcomings at his feet. It is only when we are able to name all that we carry and fully surrender it to God, that we are able to move through change, grieve our losses and make something new on the other side.
At World Relief, we recognize the gravity of this year’s change and understand that the months ahead contain challenge and uncertainty of their own, and we are also convinced that God has something good for us in the midst of change.
In fact, when we are able to tap into the divine strength found in God, we may even find that we were made for change. We were made for growth. We were made for renewal. And we were made to bring that redemption to a broken, hurting world.
With this in mind, our team has worked diligently to create a resource to help you reflect and move through the immense amounts of change we’ve experienced. It’s called Monday Meditations.
Starting on October 19th, this six-part audio series will be delivered to your inbox bi-weekly.
I hope you’ll join us in this series as we use scripture to reflect on and embrace change, discovering what it means for each of us to lean in, look forward and reimagine a hopeful future together.
Already signed up? Text this link to a friend and invite them to join you.
Scott Arbeiter is a former pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and the president of World Relief, which is a subsidiary of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Making Change for Girls in Malawi
Each year, 12 million girls across the globe are married before the age of 18. Every minute, 23 young girls are married off, putting their personal development and wellbeing at risk.
That’s 12 million girls — 12 million dreamers and artists, future doctors, teachers and community leaders — whose opportunity for childhood and education has been taken from them. At World Relief, we are striving to rewrite that narrative.
We believe all girls are made in the image of God, worthy of love and respect, and full of God-given potential for a bright future.
That’s why, with the crucial support of local churches and community members, World Relief has formed girls clubs in communities around the world. These weekly gatherings for girls between ages 10-18 seek to enhance girls’ self-esteem, encourage education and empower personal decision-making.
Today, in celebration of International Day of the Girl, two bright young women from our girls clubs in Malawi and their mentors share their stories and why they are grateful for the girls clubs in their community.
Girls Clubs
Bertha is 13 and the oldest daughter in a family of four children. She is a member of the Kalulu Adolescent Girls Club. Estina is 14 and the youngest of five. She’s a member of the Adolescent Kanjedza Girls Club.
Both girls live with their families in the Chitowo community in Malawi. In their village, young girls often struggle to see the reality of a future beyond finding a suitor for marriage.
Yet, Bertha dreams of becoming a nurse someday, and Estina aspires to become a doctor.
Without a pathway where Bertha, Estina and thousands of girls like them can envision their future as nurses or doctors, early marriage is more difficult to prevent.
“Attending club meetings has been very helpful to me,” Bertha said. “There are many girls of my age who are out of school in my village. Some are even married. It is difficult to aspire for any other thing apart from getting married.”
Through the girls club, however, Bertha and her friends are given an avenue to learn, interact with one another, growing in love and respect in a safe environment.
For Estina, joining a girls club has helped her be more confident and less fearful. “During club meetings, we are encouraged to speak out our thoughts and this has helped us to develop confidence and a free spirit,” she said.
From One Generation to the Next
When a club gathers for their weekly meeting, girls play games, read stories, sing songs and learn to lead songs. With guidance from mentors — women from within the community — clubs foster an atmosphere where girls can excel as they feel more empowered, more knowledgeable and more confident.
Mentors like Eunice and Cecilia play a crucial role in helping girls combat long-held beliefs about themselves and understand their God-given potential and worth.
“As mentors, we are always available to attend to questions the girls may have,” Eunice said.
“We are proud of our work because we consider it a service to our community,” Cecilia added. “Although I do not have much education, when they came looking for mentors in our village, I offered myself. I realized that doing this is a way of developing my community. These girls have learnt the dangers of early marriages and teen pregnancies, we hope they will stay in school for long.”
Change that Lasts
World Relief Malawi has a total of 86 groups impacting adolescent girl children (ages 10-18). These groups serve to not only empower girls and prevent early marriages from happening now, but for generations to come.
The investment that mentors like Eunice and Cecilia are pouring into their communities remind us that we were all made for change. We were made for transformation, and we were made to transform our communities.
With education, access to opportunity and trusted community leaders helping rewrite the future of hundreds of girls, God’s love is being shown in tangible ways — creating a world of justice and flourishing for young girls and creating change that lasts.
Change isn’t easy. But when we move together we can be an irresistible force for good and an agent for lasting change.
Dana North serves as the Marketing Manager at World Relief. With a background in graphic design and advertising and experiences in community development and transformation, Dana seeks to use the power of words and action to help create a better world. Dana is especially passionate about seeking justice for women and girls around the world.
Emmanuel Zyambo has been working with World Relief since 2017. He currently serves as the District Coordinator overseeing all of World Relief Malawi’s work in the Dedza District.
National Association of Evangelicals and World Relief Launch Statement on Civic Responsibility With Robust Advertising Campaign
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
October 6, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and World Relief launched a statement titled, “A Call to Civic Responsibility: For the Health of the Nation,” inviting the evangelical church to repentance, renewal and resolve to address the critical issues our nation and world face. The full statement was published in print this morning in The Washington Post, and the NAE and World Relief discussed it in depth during a press call with a few key signatories. This statement marks the beginning of several digital advertising campaigns that will launch in national mainstream and Christian outlets throughout the remainder of the week.
“The Bible speaks to the most challenging issues we face as a nation. With this statement, we renew our commitment to biblical values as we work together for the health of our nation. I hope many evangelical leaders will join us in affirming these beliefs as we convene a collective evangelical witness,” said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
The statement is based on the principles of “For the Health of the Nation,” first published in 2004 by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Over the past 16 years, “For the Health of the Nation” has guided the public engagement of the NAE and its members, applying gospel principles to the issues we face as a nation.
“Not every individual in the evangelical community agrees on every issue, but the Church should be unified on these core issues if we are going to serve the world in loving our neighbors,” said Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief. The statement calls all evangelical Christians, whether Democrats, Republicans or Independents, to unite in agreement with the evangelical Christian call to seek the health of the nation for the good of all people.
Among several calls to action, it urges evangelical Christians to do their part to protect human rights and the sanctity of life and pursue reconciliation. “The national conversation around race has reached an inflection point this summer, and the evangelical church must lead in conversations that can bring about justice and peace in our communities,” said Bishop Timothy Clarke, senior pastor of First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.
The statement urges evangelical Christians to take political action that aligns with biblical callings. “Evangelicals too often allow the marriage of political agendas with their understanding of faith. This is too narrow a conception of Jesus’ teachings. We are called to love all our neighbors, not only those who resemble us and our political preferences,” said Rev. Jeanette Salguero, senior vice president of NaLEC, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and co-lead pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, FL. And Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of NaLEC and co-lead pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, FL, also said “We signed onto this statement because we believe that a broad evangelical witness encompasses more than just one or two singular issues. And we must choose to support through prayer those carrying the burden of leadership.”
Evangelical Christians are invited to repent of the ways they have failed to perfectly engage with these issues. “We must inspect our hearts, own our inconsistencies and commit to listening to our neighbors and loving others well by the ways we choose to engage in the public sphere and care for our shared spaces.” said Jo Anne Lyon, vice chair of the board of the NAE.
“It’s time for the evangelical community to inspire a new commitment to values-based public policy and stand up for the issues that are central to the health of our nation. The principles in this document provide a platform from which evangelicals can engage in much needed common action,” said Jenny Yang, vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief.
“In a time when our democracy itself is strained to the breaking point, evangelical Christians are called to be a healing presence, as we seek to bless our neighbors and advance the common good,” said Galen Carey, vice president for government relations with the NAE.
World Relief and the NAE aim to reach a wide audience and invite as many evangelical Christians as possible to sign in agreement with this call to action. To learn more and add your name, visit http://www.forthehealthofthenation.org.
Download a PDF version of this press release here.
###
About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
About the National Association of Evangelicals:
Founded in 1942, the National Association of Evangelicals includes more than 45,000 churches from 40 denominations and serves a constituency of millions. The NAE provides resources, connection and influence to help evangelical leaders navigate complexity with clarity and foster thriving communities.
Learn more at NAE.net.
###
World Relief Decries Trump Administration’s Failure to Set Robust Presidential Determination for Refugee Resettlement for FY2021
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
October 1, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – With the end of FY2020 and a proposed ceiling of 15,000 for FY2021, World Relief calls the administration to engage in meaningful consultations with Congress to increase the refugee ceiling to 95,000 for FY2021. Furthermore, World Relief warns that the prolonged absence of a Presidential Determination (PD) has life and death implications for many waiting in limbo around the world. Unnecessary delays in continuing the U.S. refugee resettlement program in FY2021 means families will remain separated, religious minorities will continue to live at risk of persecution and unrest, and displacement will continue to exacerbate vulnerabilities for women and children in particular.
“The administration’s failure to observe its legal obligation to consult with Congress and set a refugee ceiling before the beginning of a new fiscal year is deeply concerning,” said World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “The White House has made explicit promises to protect persecuted Christians abroad. Sadly, we have not seen these promises honored through a robust U.S. refugee resettlement program that has been a lifeline of protection for persecuted Christians. Instead, we’ve seen the resettlement of refugees from countries known for persecution drop about 90% in some cases over the last four years. This is unconscionable. We urge the President to increase and sign the PD as soon as possible”
The Refugee Act of 1980 set the precedent for the president to set an annual target for resettlement for the following fiscal year by September 30. While the stated resettlement target for 2020 was 18,000 – an historically low number – fewer than 11,000 were actually resettled. This year, the Report to Congress was sent to Congress late on September 30, but no meaningful consultation meetings have happened, nor has a PD been set that reflects U.S. leadership in responding to global need. Further, the report reflects a concerning conflation of refugee resettlement and asylee processing – processes that are distinct and reflect U.S. obligations to protect those fleeing persecution in different ways.
“The initial public health concerns at the onset of the pandemic that led to the suspension of the program were worth heeding. However, the State Department and partner agencies have worked together to institute certain public health measures to ensure that refugees arriving in the United States do not pose a public health risk. These measures include screenings, temperature checks and a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. We strongly believe that it is not only possible to resettle refugees safely, but it’s essential,” commented Tim Breene, World Relief CEO. “The overlapping global refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic present challenges for anyone around the world facing underlying insecurities, and now is not the time for the U.S. to drop the ball.”
Join World Relief in urging Congress and the president to set a FY2021 refugee resettlement target at 95,000 by visiting https://worldrelief.org/advocate/.
Download a PDF version of this press release here.
###
About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
Pursuing Peace Together
Imagine a world where wounds were healed and reconciliation was made possible because wrongs were acknowledged and forgiveness was both extended and received.
Where hatred and broken relationships were replaced with humble dialogue, and Christlike love fueled spiritual, relational and community development. This is the world World Relief Rwanda is helping build, and it’s the vision that has inspired a recent partnership with One Day’s Wages.
In 2019, Eugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages, joined World Relief President Scott Arbeiter and a group of other pastors on a trip to Rwanda where they witnessed this work first hand.
Scott and Eugene recently caught up with Rwanda Country Director Moses Ndahiro on Zoom. They relived a bit of their trip together and discussed what lessons the U.S. Church can learn from the Rwandan Church.
“Everyone loves the idea of reconciliation until it involves confession, dismantling, forgiveness, to forgive others. It’s hard work, and that’s what really inspired me,” Eugene said.
“The desperation and the pain of what transpired brought the Rwandan church on its knees to the point that they were involved in the courageous and the hard work of confession, truth-telling, forgiving, dismantling, and then creating a more compassionate and just society and nation.”
Today, on International Day of Peace, we’re excited to share part of their conversation with you. International Day of Peace is a global day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace by observing 24-hours of non-violence and ceasefire.
This year, the United Nations has named “Shaping Peace Together” as the theme and dedicated the day to fostering dialogue and collecting ideas. We hope this conversation spurs you to consider how you might pursue peace in your own life. Consider sharing it with a friend and fostering an evening of dialogue on your own Zoom call!
Watch their conversation below and learn more about our partnership with One Day’s Wages.
Dear Ivanka
World Relief, along with a host of other evangelical organizations, recently penned a letter to Ivanka Trump urging her “to use her significant influence within the administration” to end the suspension of an anti-trafficking law that has provided safeguards to unaccompanied minors.
Ivanka is the daughter and an advisor to the president of the United States. Recently, at a roundtable discussion with victims of human trafficking, she referred to human trafficking as “arguably the gravest of human rights violations.”
At World Relief, we agree with her assessment. We believe all people are created in the image of God, and human trafficking gravely violates the dignity found within each person. But the recent change in immigration policy could leave unaccompanied youth who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border exposed to increased vulnerabilities to human trafficking.
The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) was passed in January 2008 and ensures unaccompanied minors are afforded due process while they await their cases to be reviewed. It also ensures minors are protected from harm under the care of the Department of Homeland Security.
Unfortunately, those protections have been suspended since March, leaving unaccompanied minors at risk of harm. At World Relief Triad, we work with several young people who have already endured incredible hardships and are seeking safety in the U.S., and many of these unaccompanied minors already have family ready to welcome them.
I think of young girls like Rosa* who, in an effort to escape sexual violence, flee their homes only to be lured into jobs or other homes under the guise of protection and are taken advantage of again. Often, these young women flee to the US to the only remaining family who may offer them protection and a home. Sometimes these young girls, like Rosa*, are pregnant by their victimizers, and they undertake this journey to protect themselves and their children. Their love and incredible resilience is something to behold.
I also think of young boys like David* who leave their homes because of gang violence. Imagine a world where daily, someone threatens to take your life and the lives of your family members. This is the reality for many young men who come to the U.S. in search of safety.
Previously, the provisions outlined under the TVPRA ensured these youth had a safe place to stay at detention centers while their cases were reviewed. Once their cases were approved, these youth would either be reunited with family members already living in the U.S. or connected to resettlement agencies like World Relief. At World Relief we were able to connect these vulnerable young people to counselors who could walk with them through their trauma, offer guidance through our immigration legal services programming and help integrate them into the community through ESL classes, job placement and social activities like youth soccer leagues.
Unfortunately, without the protections of the TVPRA, hundreds of vulnerable youth are being denied these life-saving services and are being expelled to their countries of origin where they face the threat of violence and exploitation again.
In March, DHS cited public health concerns amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for taking such measures. But, as we state in the letter:
“The recent acknowledgment from DHS that children are being tested and expelled to their countries of origin only after testing negative for COVID-19 demonstrates that these children do not present a risk of bringing further incidence of COVID-19 into the U.S. We must not allow COVID-19 to serve as a pretext for abandoning our national commitment to standing for vulnerable children and against the scourge of human trafficking. Our faith compels us to speak up for these children.”
Join us as we advocate for these vulnerable youth by reading and signing on to our letter to Ivanka Trump.
*Names have been changed to protect the individual’s identity.
Rachel Parker serves as the Anti-Human Trafficking Services Program Manager at World Relief Triad. She supervises and coordinates outreach and direct services for survivors of both labor and sex trafficking, and collaborative responses across North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad. Rachel supervises the coordination of the Triad Rapid Response Team and the Triad Labor Trafficking Task Force to support victim identification across Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson Counties and provides training for professionals, communities, and churches across NC.
World Relief Celebrates New Skincare Line PrettyInside, Giving a Portion of Their Profit to Female Refugees
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
September 16, 2020
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – Today, Musee Bath, a global company that creates handmade bath products, announced the launch of their sister brand and all-natural skincare line, PrettyInside, which will contribute a portion of all of their profits to women refugees through World Relief. Their generosity will fuel World Relief’s work helping refugees find housing and employment, learn English, and create long-term support systems in their new home.
“World Relief is extremely proud to partner with PrettyInside and their mission to demonstrate the beauty of women around the world,” said Jenny Yang, VP of advocacy and policy at World Relief. “We believe all individuals are uniquely created with inherent dignity and value, and we’re thrilled PrettyInside chose to give generously to our work empowering female refugees as they rebuild their lives in the U.S.”
PrettyInside’s newly-launched, female-founded brand offers five face masks made with clean ingredients that celebrate womanhood, each named after a unique characteristic that make women beautiful. They will donate 10% of their online retail profits, 5% of all wholesale proceeds and 100% of all profits from a unique tote bag to World Relief’s work empowering female refugees and their families to start fresh in America.
“The PrettyInside team is incredibly excited to be partnering with World Relief,” said Leisha Pickering, founder and CEO of Musee Bath. “We’re so thankful for the work they do that makes a difference in the lives of so many women around the world.”
Today, more than 70 million people have been forced to leave their home, fleeing for their lives and seeking refuge in the United States. For over 75 years, World Relief has been coming alongside families displaced by violence, poverty and injustice and helping them start over.
To learn more about PrettyInside and their products, visit their website at prettyinsidebeauty.com.
###
About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
English 
Spanish