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Covid 19 Mask Creation In Partnership With Southwest Organizing Project By African and Afghan Women and Girls April - September 2020

CENSUS PROMOTION COVID 19 MASKS CREATION

In collaboration with the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) African and Afghan women and girls alongside many community volunteers and collaborators sewed masks which helped to raise awareness of the 2020 census, and also provided people with protective hand-sewn masks". 18,000+ masks were created.

13 African and African American girls and young adults were trained while observing social distancing, wearing masks, using disinfectants and washing hands by Nkazi Sinandile founder and director of New Mexico Women's Global Pathways a flagship job and educational skills development program of the Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque. After two days of training the seamstresses were provided with sewing machines and sewed at home. They received healthy stipends from the Southwest Organizing Project ( SWOP),

"A huge thanks to the project director, Monica Demarco, for her endless perserverance to making every aspect of this huge project a success"- SWOP.

Food Delivery In Partnership With Local Organizations To Families Affected By Covid 19 Pandemic

Food distribution

in collaboration with several local organizations and New Mexicans, IRRVA volunteers sorted, packed and delivered dozens of food baskets to several homes in the Greater Albuquerque including the international district, where IRRVA/NMWGP center is located.

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RESOURCE VILLAGE OF ALBUQUERQUE

Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque is a 100% volunteer driven African community-based organization that promotes social, economic justice and empowerment of African immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in New Mexico. They have lost everything- family, home and health. IRRVA was incorporated as a 501 c (3) in 2011. Most of the program participants served are widows, immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, victims of rape and torture. Our programs help families adjust to their new home, receive the training and support needed to be self-sufficient economically, educationally, socially and become leaders in their own societies. The majority reside in the Greater Albuquerque area, including the International District, and are from Africa, Asia, The Middle East, Haiti, Mexico, Cuba and the United States.

Our main focus is to build strong financial futures for vulnerable children, their families and communities. Many refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, local low income marginalized families lack the earnings, resources, assets or social support systems that are necessary to meet their needs to thrive well. The majority of participants in our organization were born and raised in refugee camps, come from impoverished countries or are born and raised in New Mexico impoverished communities that are disconnected from the economic mainstream. The latter includes the homeless and those on the verge of homelessness.

The above videos are the South African Orion Duet and Matunda Ya Yesu African Youth Choir

Lungile and Nkazi Sinandile sing as a duet and are the founders of Matunda Ya Yesu African Youth Choir. Lungile is a song writer. He also plays and record the music for both the choir and the Duet.

African young ladies find income in drumming

Artisans who helped establish New Mexico Women's Global Pathways in 2009.

On their way to weekly Saturday enrichment including Read to Excel/Tutoring and other strengthened life skills.

Mission Statement

To promote empowerment and provide support to the most vulnerable immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable under-served local people in Bernalillo New Mexico, in order to build healthy and productive children and their families, and will promote community involvement in supporting the needs of the families.

IRRVA Family Support Services:

Assist individuals and families gain access to safety-net programs that support personal and family well-being, and economic self-sufficiency including; Medical Assistance (Medicaid/Medicare), Food Banks, Adult Tutoring, Read To Excel/Tutoring for Youth, computer literacy training, Job Search, training in beading, Sewing and other needle art, Nutritional, Housing and Clothing Assistance, Access to legal services and emergency housing, Disability Benefits, Social Security/Supplemental Income, Access to affordable housing/ assistance with evictions, Utility Assistance (LIHEAP), etc. Through interpretation, outreach, education and advocacy our family support program combats some of the most common barriers African and other world immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees face when navigating the American system; Not knowing where to get the information needed, misinformation, inability to communicate in English, and other cultural-specific barriers. In addition IRRVA provides direct services.