Refugee Support
Welcoming and integrating new families into our community
From Harm to Hope
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The Center for Refugee Support provides educational and career programs for the many refugee families that have resettled in Albuquerque. These programs aim to create a path for families and individuals to participate in their new community through education, personal empowerment, leadership opportunities, community engagement, career preparation and the pursuit of citizenship.
From 1961 through 2016, the formerly known Center for Refugee Settlement and Support welcomed approximately 300 political refugees each year. These services were made partially possible through government contracts to provide resettlement services and the generous support of our donors. Beginning in 2017, the Center stopped receiving new arrivals and directed efforts toward supporting the growth to families resettled but struggling. Now known as the Center for Refugee Support, we are dedicated to providing meaningful support to help these families strengthen their foundation in America as integral members of our community. Find some updates on our Facebook page |
News from the Center for Refugee Support:
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Current Programs:
Other services for refugees:
Legal Services (Citizenship and Permanent Residency)
Adult Education: Citizenship Preparation Classes, English as Second Language
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Immigration Services
Meet our Team:
Celia Yapita Chief Program Officer Director of Center for Refugee Support Click here to read the Bio
Celia Yapita came to Catholic Charities as a volunteer approximately 10 years ago, starting in the Center for Refugee Support. Her positions at Catholic Charities have included: English instructor and cultural orientation instructor, volunteer coordinator, grant and program manager, and director. In her current position as Chief Program Officer and director of immigrant and refugee programs, Celia works to support her dedicated and compassionate team in their goals to help all participants achieve success and empowerment. |
Sarah Azibo ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Click here to read the Bio
Sarah Azibo is currently the Program Coordinator with Catholic Charities’ Center for Refugee Support. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Education from Metropolitan State College of Denver and taught in Denver for many years. After relocating to Albuquerque in 2019, she volunteered at the donation center for asylum seekers before joining the community at Catholic Charities. Sarah enjoys working with families and creating opportunities for people to connect with one another. |
Russol Abdelfatah Arabic Bilingual Community Liaison Click here to read the Bio
.Russol Abdelfatah is currently one of the Bilingual Community Liaisons for the Arabic language. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from her country, Iraq. Russol has been with Catholic Charities in her current position since October 2019. She enjoys working with families to help them to improve their lives. 
Yvonne Kaimukilwa Swahili Interpreter Click here to read the Bio
Yvonne Kaimukilwa is currently a Swahili Interpreter at Catholic Charities’ Center for refugee Support. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Mysore and a Post-Graduate certification in financial management from The Centre for Advanced Studies in Management Education & Training (CASME&T). She is also currently an international student at The University of New Mexico pursing a Bachelor of Art & Science in Nursing and minor in Psychology. As an interpreter, Yvonne enjoys translating to families that she shares a common native language with and works hard with the team at Catholic Charities’ in making sure that their goals in helping the families are met. |
Hawra Alassadi Arabic Bilingual Community Liaison Click here to read the Bio
Hawra Alassadi is currently one of the Bilingual Community Liaisons for the Arabic language. She currently holds an associate degree in Surgical Technology and is continuing her education in the health field. Hawra has been with Catholic Charities since October 2019. She enjoys learning new ways to help our families become more successful. 
Everlyne Lagat Swahili Interpreter Click here to read the Bio
Everlyne Lagat is from Kenya and has lived in Albuquerque for many years where she worked as a professional Athlete. She studied International Business at the University of Toledo where she was a member of Rockets cross country and Track and Field. Everlyne Loves working with people to improve their lives and reach their goals, spending time with her daughters, friend and volunteer work. At Catholic Charities, Everlyne is excited to continue learning and growing working with a very dedicated team. |
Parwin Hussaini Dari/Farsi Bilingual Community Liaison Click here to read the Bio
Parwin Hussaini is currently one of the Bilingual Community Liaisons for the Dari / Farsi language with Catholic Charities and full time newcomer specialist at Albuquerque Public School. Parwin has been interpreting and translating for Catholic Charities programs for 5 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in management field. She loves switching languages, translating English into Dari and Dari into English. She translates English documents into Dari to keep her mother tongue reading and writing alive. She enjoys working with her community and making them feel strong. 
Mohammad Munir BILINGUAL COMMUNITY LIASION CLICK HERE TO READ THE BIO
Mohammad Munir is currently a Bilingual Community Outreach Liasion at Catholic Charities of Center for refugee Support. He has a Master of Science degree in Advance Zoology from University of Delhi of India. He had been taught many years at Kabul University as lecturer. He worked as senior interpreter with US Army and Coalition forces and contributed to establish the same model of US West Point Military Academy for Afghan government. He had been written and translated several textbooks and scientific articles from English to his own native language and back translations. He has been living in Albuquerque city of New Mexico with his family since Oct 2017. He speaks Dari, Pashto and in conserve in Urdu. Mohammad is very excited to join at Catholic Charities, would like to exchange his conceptual thoughts among the staff members and would like to help the participants to reach to self-sufficiency, Empowerment, journey to success and get their dream life as well as careers. |
Videos for World Refugee Day
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Team Refugee is funded by a grant from the Sandia Foundation’s
Hugh and Helen Woodward Fund of the Albuquerque Community Foundation
Hugh and Helen Woodward Fund of the Albuquerque Community Foundation
THANK YOU to the granting organizations that make our programs possible
