Testimonials.
"I am Anastasiia from Mariupol, Ukraine.
I was forced to flee from my city and country because of the war, and now I live in Latvia. I am a lawyer by education and a couple of years ago I used to work for famous Azovstal Iron and Steel plant. Now I work for UNDP Ukraine, and what fascinates me the most in my work is that all the efforts we put in are for the building resilience of my country during the most difficult period of its history and for serving the people of Ukraine.
So, today I need English both for my work and personal life. I am happy to have the opportunity to learn English in the framework of the International Women Resource Center project. I am grateful to our tutors for the great atmosphere during the classes, their deep knowledge of the language, and their ability to explain all the topics in a simple and understandable manner while making a lot of examples from daily life. We have a lot of different activities during the classes, starting from learning grammar topics and live discussions to different competitions and quizzes. I'd say we study while having fun!"
-Nastia
“I wanted to feel connected to a community
outside my family, friends, and colleagues, so I went searching for volunteer opportunities in the L.A. area and found IWRC. I admire Katie’s dedication to uplifting the immigrant community, and I love that I can join in her mission by volunteering at IWRC.
-Ezinne
“My main goal is to improve my English,
even though I have studied the language since I was in elementary school, I never tried to perfect it until now, and that is how I found the IWRC organization, for which I am deeply grateful. My tutor Vanessa is a very empathetic and patient person with me. She is helping me to have more confidence in my speaking and has taught me many new words that I didn’t know. I know I still have a long way to go to reach my goal of being able to speak like a native, but I know that I'm on the right way.”
— Ximena
“What really drew me to volunteering is the idea of changing someone’s life.
Even if it is a small impact, it does count at the end of the day. Everyone has some free time, including me, so why not use it to see people uniting from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal?
What I like about volunteering with IWRC is how smooth the process of participating in the organization was. I felt like I've been here for a long time, my schedule is flexible, and I can also participate remotely.”
— Badr
“Growing up in Afghanistan, I always knew the importance of education and hard work.
My parents instilled these values in me from a young age, and I carried them throughout my life. However, my life turned unexpectedly when political turmoil erupted in Afghanistan. Faced with the threat of violence and instability, my family and I were forced to flee our home country and seek refuge in Pakistan.
By offering my time and skills to the IWRC, I can help support these individuals as they navigate the challenges of living in a new country, just as I have in the process. Overall, volunteering with the IWRC has allowed me to continue making a positive impact in the world while also connecting with a community of like-minded individuals who share my passion for helping others.”
— Bai
“When the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, and millions of refugees from Ukraine were trying to settle in Europe, I was trying to donate as much as I could to help my country from abroad. But then I understood that this is not enough, and I am just obliged to try to help with everything that I can, especially when I have some knowledge which is needed by other people. volunteering for me is not how I enjoy it or why I enjoy it, it is just a necessity. It is very simple – if you can help, just help, and if each of us will have this approach, the world will become better, I am sure.”
-Natalya
“IWRC is working to empower the most vulnerable section of women, the refugees, which makes this experience meaningful for me. Moreover, volunteering with IWRC is fun as one gets to interact with people of diverse backgrounds in the process of helping them out. In addition, the IWRC team is positive and responsive, which makes the whole experience very pleasant.”
- Guru
“As women, we share a lot of similarities, no matter what part of the world we're from. We're mothers, daughters, wives.... and we want the best for our families. I want others to know that their own life experience can also serve to mentor and encourage other women. I get to experience the world through immigrant and refugee women. We are no different, really. IWRC provides resources, making it easy for a mentor to help mentees.”
- Dora
“ I volunteer at IWRC because it reminds me about people who supported me when I moved to the United States and allows me to pay it forward. Plus, I get a chance to meet people arriving from a variety of countries, with interesting life stories and empowering dreams of building their lives in America.”
-Marta
“Being an immigrant, I know firsthand how daunting it can be to move to another country, especially if you don't know the language, so teaching ESL through IWRC is especially relatable and impactful for me. I love all the resources that IWRC provides to both students and teachers and how it empowers women in general!”
- Arpit
“My name is Silvana, and I am originally from Bogotá, Colombia. I decided to volunteer since I have always been drawn to social impact or mission-driven work. More specifically, witnessing the large amounts of Venezuelan immigrants in Colombia in recent years inspired me to look for volunteering opportunities in immigration. As I currently reside in the United States, I decided to volunteer with an organization based here. IWRC made it so easy to know how I could best help.”
- Silvana
“My life and my academic journey have taken me from Tehran, Iran, to Italy and Canada, before finally settling in LA. Along the way, I've experienced and learned so much. My passion for women's empowerment has always been at the forefront of my beliefs. The IWRC's dedication to empowering women is inspiring, and I feel proud to be part of such a compassionate team. I believe that IWRC and the Iranian "women, life, freedom" movement share the same values - the pursuit of gender equality, justice, and human rights. This is why I chose to volunteer with them. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of women and girls around the world, and I couldn't be more honored to be part of it. Volunteering with IWRC has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, and I hope others join us in promoting gender equality and empowering women.”
- Sahba