We are working with the Ethiopian Community Development Council or ECDC, a government funded refugee resettlement organization based in Arlington, to help support and facilitate refugee support programs in the Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland areas. The programs we will be supporting are listed in detail below. We are in urgent need of families who are interested in participating in this program.
First Friends Program
- First and foremost be a friend to the incoming refugee family
- This program aims to match a local family with an incoming refugee family to provide general support, acting as a friend and a neighbor to help and guide in their journey to settle in this area (no financial support is expected, but is welcome)
- "First Friends" are required to commit a minimum of three months to helping the family
- Regularly meet with the family (as little as 1 hour per week or whatever you have time for)
- Must be cleared as a volunteer by submitting a volunteer application, confidentiality waiver, and background check
- **More details can be found in the documentation section**
If you are interested in or know someone who would be interested in participating, please fill out the form here and circulate this to your network!
