David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, visited Gaynor to speak with the Green and Blue Clusters this morning. Miliband is a former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and as the son of refugees, he brings a personal commitment to his efforts at the IRC. Miliband spoke with the students about his parents’ history, and how their experiences and those of other refugees informs his work. The students had a lively interaction with Miliband, and were obviously very interested in the work of the IRC.
Miliband spoke of the 25 million refugees currently in need of assistance around the world. The IRC has humanitarian relief operations in more than 40 war-affected countries, as well as refugee resettlement and assistance programs in 26 United States cities. The students learned not just about the “big picture” when it comes to helping refugees, but also learned stories of individual refugees and their needs and desires. He told the students about one teenage boy from Burundi who wanted to complete his high school education, and a woman displaced from Syria who hoped only to return home someday.
For more information about the work of the International Rescue Committee, visit their web site.
