AMAR US and LDS Charities invite you to a one-day conference to:
1) Raise awareness of the challenges refugees face
2) Discuss best practices for providing services for refugees both domestically and overseas

Conference Organizers
AMAR U.S.
For over two decades the AMAR International Charitable Foundation has assisted the people of the Middle East. In 1991 the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein began persecuting the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq, draining the marshes and attacking the villages. Baroness Emma Nicholson visited the marshes amid the conflict and subsequently launched the one-off AMAR (Assisting Marsh Arabs and Refugees) Appeal to send much needed relief, which then developed into the AMAR International Charitable Foundation. Although the charity has since evolved far beyond this original remit, the AMAR name continues to reflect our history, and, as the word ‘amar’ translates as ‘the builder’ in some Arabic dialects, reminding us of our central mission — ‘rebuilding lives’.

Today AMAR delivers health, education, human rights and professional training to over half a million Iraqis and Lebanese, as well as emergency assistance to Syrian refugees. The pioneering ‘AMAR model’ of development, uses all-local staff, continuous professional development and locally available equipment to provide primary health care and education with a focus on women and girls. The model has been celebrated by the World Health Organization and World Bank as a more cost-efficient, affordable and effective approach to providing stability and vital services to the whole community, and in 2014 AMAR won the UK National Charity Award for International Aid and Development in recognition of its groundbreaking human rights work in Iraq in collaboration with the US Department of State.
LDS Charities
Since 1985, LDS Charities has provided aid regardless of cultural or religious beliefs. LDS Charities provides emergency assistance when disasters occur and long-term aid through major initiatives such as providing clean water, wheelchair distribution, neonatal resuscitation training, vision care, immunization, and food production training, as well as a variety of local area initiatives. LDS Charities works with government ministries, nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations to help people worldwide.

Utah Refugee Organizations
With the help of Catholic Community Services and the International Rescue Committee, over 1200 refugees arrive to Utah each year from countries including Bhutan, Burma, Eritrea, Iraq, Somalia and many more. Upon arrival to U.S. soil refugee resettlement staff and volunteers help these refugees transition to their new surroundings through an array of services. The help these and other organizations in our community provide is vital to the success of refugee integration. With this support, coupled with their tremendous strengths and resilience, refugees are able to contribute greatly to the fabric of our community.