Saad (right), an Iraqi refugee, receives feedback on his resume from two volunteers

On Jan. 19, 2009, Intersections, along with The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies and CAMBA, hosted a job training workshop for Iraqis resettled in the New York City area. The goal was to assist them in their transition to the U.S. job market. The workshop was held on Martin Luther King Day as a part of President Obama’s call for Americans to renew their commitment to volunteerism and join forces for a national day of service.

In addition to receiving information on job placement and training services, more than a dozen dedicated volunteers were on hand to offer one-on-one resume critiques, mock interviews, and break-out sessions for professional networking. The day was full of excitement for both the refugees and volunteers.

Jennifer Kouvant, volunteer coordinator from WATCH-NYC, gives instructions to the volunteers before the refugees arrive

“This day of service really inspired me,” wrote volunteer Nadira Narine. “The one-on-one engagement actually opened my eyes to all of the consequences that are affecting refugees … In addition, I walked away from the day of service feeling like I helped to contribute to the mission of the organizations involved in this day’s work.”

In the fall, Intersections will travel back to the Middle East with a group of artists and storytellers to launch the Iraqi Voices Amplification Project (IVAP). For more information about IVAP, as well as to hear the podcast interview, please visit www.intersectionsinternational.org/amplifyingiraqirefugeevoices.