
02/25/2021
“One thing I learned was how powerful my voice was.”
Meet Fredrick: a refugee, racial justice activist and IRC staff member in Boise, Idaho.
In 1994, the Rwandan genocide forced Fredrick and his family to flee to neighboring Uganda, where they remained in a refugee camp until they were resettled in 2012. Eventually, Fredrick joined the IRC as a youth success specialist and he now dedicates himself to helping young people of similar backgrounds thrive in the US, all while working toward becoming a lawyer in order to change unjust policies.
“Coming to America, I really thought my life was complete. Then, I found out that racism in the U.S. is even worse than I thought. It’s very sad, to be honest, to experience that on a daily basis.”
Impacted by the #BlackLivesMatter movement, in addition to his role working with youth, Fredrick joined IRC colleagues in Boise to launch a series of public seminars on racial justice in humanitarian work.
“2020 was a very difficult year for everyone. There were a few killings of people of color and it got to a boiling point after the passing of George Floyd. That's when the IRC in Boise reacted. We created a safe space where people of color could just come in and talk. It turned into something really special as we continued to meet weekly.”
The sessions now include a look into global histories, community panels, and personal reflections, open to IRC staff and the greater community.
“As resettled refugees and [newly arrived] refugees in the community, we have a lot to share. We have more to give. And the event proved that.”
Now, with the Biden Administration and the promise to restore the US legacy of making #RefugeesWelcome, Fredrick is energized to keep working towards justice.
“It is exciting now to have an administration that has shown interest in supporting refugees and Black people, and that may implement policies to make refugees feel safer in the country that we now call home.
“It’s hard to fight when you’re not seeing change. But when you finally do, that gives you much more energy and more dedication to keep on going.”
Read more of Fredrick’s story: https://www.rescue.org/.../refugee-leader-shares-his...
“One thing I learned was how powerful my voice was.”
Meet Fredrick: a refugee, racial justice activist and IRC staff member in Boise, Idaho.
In 1994, the Rwandan genocide forced Fredrick and his family to flee to neighboring Uganda, where they remained in a refugee camp until they were resettled in 2012. Eventually, Fredrick joined the IRC as a youth success specialist and he now dedicates himself to helping young people of similar backgrounds thrive in the US, all while working toward becoming a lawyer in order to change unjust policies.
“Coming to America, I really thought my life was complete. Then, I found out that racism in the U.S. is even worse than I thought. It’s very sad, to be honest, to experience that on a daily basis.”
Impacted by the #BlackLivesMatter movement, in addition to his role working with youth, Fredrick joined IRC colleagues in Boise to launch a series of public seminars on racial justice in humanitarian work.
“2020 was a very difficult year for everyone. There were a few killings of people of color and it got to a boiling point after the passing of George Floyd. That's when the IRC in Boise reacted. We created a safe space where people of color could just come in and talk. It turned into something really special as we continued to meet weekly.”
The sessions now include a look into global histories, community panels, and personal reflections, open to IRC staff and the greater community.
“As resettled refugees and [newly arrived] refugees in the community, we have a lot to share. We have more to give. And the event proved that.”
Now, with the Biden Administration and the promise to restore the US legacy of making #RefugeesWelcome, Fredrick is energized to keep working towards justice.
“It is exciting now to have an administration that has shown interest in supporting refugees and Black people, and that may implement policies to make refugees feel safer in the country that we now call home.
“It’s hard to fight when you’re not seeing change. But when you finally do, that gives you much more energy and more dedication to keep on going.”
Read more of Fredrick’s story: https://www.rescue.org/article/refugee-leader-shares-his-thoughts-black-lives-matter-movement?edme=true