Media Contact: info@thebaci.org

INDIANAPOLIS, June 18, 2024 — Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) has joined the Welcome Corps as a certified Private Sponsor Organization (PSO). BACI is leveraging its expertise to help recruit, support, and oversee Americans who are sponsoring newcomers through the Welcome Corps.

The Welcome Corps is a U.S. government community service program that launched in January 2023 and allows everyday Americans to sponsor refugees from around the world privately. The Welcome Corps is the boldest innovation in the United States’ approach to refugee resettlement in more than 40 years.

As Welcome Corps Private Sponsor Organization, BACI was one of the first 22 approved PSOs across the United States.

“BACI has been advocating for international refugee protection and durable solutions as well as welcoming and assisting Burmese and other refugees around the world in the past thirteen years with their self-sufficiency and integration. We are grateful for the Welcome Corps initiative, as it will allow many refugees and families who have been awaiting in unsafe conditions for many years to resettle in the USA. As a PSO, we will utilize our unique experiences from over a decade and capitalize on the full advantage this opportunity gives to welcome newcomers as they start a new life in this land of freedom and opportunity,” said Elaisa Vahnie, President and Executive Director of BACI.

Through the Welcome Corps, eligible American citizens and lawful permanent residents work in groups of five or more to welcome refugees under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by securing and preparing initial housing, greeting refugee newcomers at the airport, enrolling children in school, getting driver’s license and helping adults to find employment. Private Sponsor Organizations coach these Americans in carrying out core private sponsorship services, including making connections with local community organizations and services and resettling newly arriving refugees through the USRAP. Organizations that will also assist sponsors in navigating the sponsorship process, including group dynamics and supporting refugees from diverse experiences and backgrounds. ###

To learn more about how to get the support from BACI Welcome Corps Program, visit the institute’s website at: BACI Welcome Corps page.

About Welcome Corps

The Welcome Corps was launched by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and is being implemented by a consortium of six organizations that have extensive expertise in refugee resettlement, protection of vulnerable populations, and relocation of newcomers into welcoming communities. Led by the Community Sponsorship Hub, the consortium includes Church World Service/Refugee Welcome Collective, IRIS – Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Welcome.US.

Refugee newcomers who arrive through the Welcome Corps will follow an established government process, known as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), that includes extensive security vetting and health checks. They will have refugee status, employment authorization, access to key public benefits like health insurance, and can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. The Welcome Corps provides sponsor groups with access to tools and resources, including a budget template, fundraising support, an arrival checklist, and ongoing guidance throughout the initial sponsorship period.

Americans interested in learning more about sponsorship or to apply to the Welcome Corps should visit WelcomeCorps.org.

About Burmese American Community Institute

The Burmese American Community Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides educational and vocational support to the Burmese community in greater Indianapolis. The BACI supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through strategic partnerships and advocacy. Since its inception, the BACI has assisted over 25,000 individuals.

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