Habimana Kabera and Leniya Mukamuganga met in the Democratic Republic of Congo and soon had to flee violence in their home country. Arriving in a refugee camp in Rwanda, they had seven children, now ages 7 to 22, over the next 25 years. On July 9th, they arrived in the U.S. and were [...]
After a momentous weekend, our staff returned to work—either virtually or in person—yesterday. Here’s what their Monday looked like: In Boston, a member of the Employment team helped an immigrant client file an application for unemployment. They had been working at a nearby hotel for a number of years before being furloughed and eventually [...]
Kanyere and her mother, Frediana, fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2004 and lived in the Kyaka II refugee camp in western Uganda for 14 years. “There were people killed before our eyes,” Frediana said when she recalled the conditions that forced her family to leave their home. In 2018, Kanyere, Frediana, [...]
Each year, the International Institute serves thousands of refugee, asylee, and immigrant families through our many supportive services. Nearly every IINE program depends on volunteers to deliver the quality support our students and clients deserve. IINE staff often remark that “we couldn’t do it” without the amazing corps of dedicated volunteers. IINE volunteers [...]
Since March 12, 2020, the vast majority of IINE employees are working remotely to keep safe and practice social distancing. For an organization that thrives on personal connection, face-to-face service delivery, and group interaction, it was an adjustment for us to move our operations online. It wasn’t long, though, before we found that [...]
In these challenging times it is remarkable to me how communities across the country are coming together. People are taking social distancing seriously, school districts are doing their best to provide remote learning, companies are manufacturing ventilators and other equipment as quickly as they can, neighbors are checking in on one another, [...]
By Sarra Briki Intern, Marketing & Community Relations Serving refugees and immigrants for more than 100 years, IINE's mission is built on community and resilience. With the rising challenges that COVID-19 imposes on all of us, we feel even more committed to keeping our community tightly connected and strengthening our sense of togetherness in [...]
By Cheryl Hamilton, Suitcase Stories Director “I am not sure I have a story.” This is often the response when I speak with someone about participating in Suitcase Stories®, a signature program of the International Institute of New England. Suitcase Stories is how we explore storytelling through the lens of migration. We believe that [...]
Dear Friends: Our highest priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and community. In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, effective today, the International Institute of New England suspended most on-site services and moved to remote work plans for most staff. The plan applies to all three of our offices [...]
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” For some, the words of poet Emma Lazarus, which have adorned the Statue of Liberty for over 100 years, are a call to help those who are suffering. For others, like Ken Cuccinelli, the [...]
