With hope for their future, refugee family settles in Indiana
Both Meshack Asende and Aimerance Bilewane became refugees at the age of 2. Their children will grow up with a different, more hopeful experience.
About the WelcomeCorps
The Welcome Corps is a service opportunity for Americans in communities across the country to make a lasting impact by helping refugees build new lives in the United States. Marking the boldest innovation in the United States’ approach to refugee resettlement in four decades, the initiative builds upon our country’s long tradition of providing refuge to people forced to flee their homes in search of safety and freedom.
Now, refugees seeking resettlement in the United States receive assistance through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in one of two ways: through professional resettlement agencies or via Welcome Corps’ sponsor groups.
How the program works
Sponsoring refugees
Working in groups of at least five people, sponsors come together to help refugees transition to life in their new community, all along the way supported by tools and resources from the Welcome Corps as well as ongoing guidance from resettlement experts.
Strengthening communities
Sponsor groups connect refugee newcomers directly to their communities, helping them build a social network, become self-sufficient, and gain a stronger sense of belonging. These shared acts of welcome strengthen communities and build support for refugee protection by directly involving private citizens in refugee resettlement.
Secretary Blinken announced the launch of the Welcome Corps in 2023
“Providing a safe haven and a new home for people fleeing war, violence, and persecution is one of America’s noblest traditions, dating back to the founding of our nation. Throughout our history, our country has benefitted from the energy, ingenuity, and the hard work of refugees.”
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Second year starts off strong
In the first few months of 2024, thousands of Americans answered the call to serve across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
13,000
Applications submitted
50
States represented
A collaborative initiative
This groundbreaking program is made possible through the joint work of various partners working alongside government agencies.
Stories of Welcome
Colombian refugees welcomed to a ‘beautiful city where we could live in peace’
Once facing a “living hell” in Colombia, Maria Del Carmen Chaperon said it “felt like we were being received by a group of angels,” when the family was resettled in Bend, Ore.
Finding safety and stability after years of violence and insecurity
Five strangers connected by their passion to make a difference have merged their talents and resources to welcome a refugee family from Colombia to Raleigh, N.C.
What does sponsoring a refugee look like?
Learn more about how sponsor groups welcome newly arrived refugees and help them rebuild their lives in the United States.