Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / ACU for the IRC helps with local refugees

ACU for the IRC helps with local refugees

March 9, 2011 by Eyrah Quashie

ACU for the International Rescue Committee, a student group, is looking to give students a first-hand experience in international relations without leaving the country. The club organizes four events a year to help refugee children adapt to American culture.

“It’s such a unique experience in Abilene, especially for international studies or political science majors, to interact with people who not only have been in crisis but are now and need our help,” said Sara Shoultz, ACU for IRC vice president and junior biochemistry major from Waco.

International Rescue Committee works to resettle refugees from across the world to sites in the U.S. after a humanitarian crisis. The organization has two sites in Texas located in Dallas and in Abilene.

“Abilene was chosen because it has universities here and … relatively high standards of living for as many entry-level jobs as there are and its affordability,” Shoultz said.

ACU for IRC members also assist the IRC in providing transitional services for refugee families. Students help mentor the family after their resettlement and adjustment to American culture.

“The program pairs students up with a family. It can be a little bit of ESL if the student has language skills but it is also just sitting and talking with the mother and her children in the day while dad is at work,” Shoultz said.

Amanda Swan, IRC intern and senior social work major from Winnipeg, Manitoba said IRC had huge needs but few staff members.

“There’s always more needs than we’re able to meet,” Swan said. “So through community members we are able to meet way more of those needs.”

Student involvement in the IRC provides community support for refugees while settling into a new country and learning a new language.

“We’re so busy at the IRC office trying to give them their immediate core services like orientation, job services and applications that we don’t have enough time to help them with acculturation,” Swan said.

Anyone interested in volunteering with ACU for IRC can contact Shoultz at ses08d@acu.edu.

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Arch apartments receive complaints from students, issues with communication, maintenance

  • Undergraduate Research, Creativity and Innovation Festival accepting abstracts for presentations until Friday

  • Annual Lunar New Year celebration held by ASO

About Eyrah Quashie

You are here: Home / News / ACU for the IRC helps with local refugees

Other News:

  • Arch apartments receive complaints from students, issues with communication, maintenance

  • Undergraduate Research, Creativity and Innovation Festival accepting abstracts for presentations until Friday

  • Annual Lunar New Year celebration held by ASO

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
2 Feb

BREAKING: Campus will be operating remotely in the morning. Any classes after 1 p.m. will be in person.

Reply on Twitter 1620939263557734401 Retweet on Twitter 1620939263557734401 Like on Twitter 1620939263557734401 Twitter 1620939263557734401
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
31 Jan

BREAKING: Campus will continue operating remotely Wednesday due to continued icy conditions.

Reply on Twitter 1620523455421779970 Retweet on Twitter 1620523455421779970 Like on Twitter 1620523455421779970 1 Twitter 1620523455421779970

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
ACU’s Alpha Psi Omega chapter raised money for the Living Waters Charity by putting on a show in the span of 24 hours. See more photos from our gallery: ... See MoreSee Less

Gallery: 24-Hour Musical tells the heartwarming story of Junie B. Jones - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

ACU’s Alpha Psi Omega chapter raised money for the Living Waters Charity by putting on a show in the span of 24 hours. This year, the department chose to perform the beloved children’s musical “...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
Greek Life has started a partnership with Campus Director, a software company that works with universities all over the country. Read more: ... See MoreSee Less

Student life implements new software, updates rushing process - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Greek Life has started a partnership with Campus Director, a software company that works with universities all over the country. The Campus Director software has an algorithm programmed to match rushe...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023

Our top stories this week include campus closures due to inclement weather, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023
  • Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved