What makes Refugee JumpStart Coaching’s program so unique? Why were we selected to win the ICF 2024 Social Impact Award by the International Coaching Federation(ICF)-- chosen from among dozens of other organizations globally?

In the eight years that I have been volunteering or working with refugees, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of refugee mindsets, challenges and refugee journeys.

As an American who grew up believing in the promise of our country as a place that strives for a fair, just and equitable future for all, these recent election results were a political earthquake and felt like a punch to the gut.

Refugee JumpStart Coaching (RJS) has received the International Coaching Federation’s first Global Social Impact Award for its impactful work empowering refugees to rebuild careers and thrive in new communities.

Refugee stories are often filled with loss, grief and trauma. For many, their difficult journeys to safety cause them to be trapped in a bad story-- a story of fear, sadness, hopelessness, and lack of agency.

One of the values we espouse at Refugee JumpStart Coaching (RJS) is the value of becoming a Global Learning Community: “Valuing continuous learning and professional development for coaches and clients alike, providing opportunities to learn from, and enrich one another