October 16, 2014
PORTLAND – Fifteen high school students from Ivory Coast, Congo, and Niger will be hosted by The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization’s Africa House, The Office of Equity and Human Rights, and Portland Human Rights Commission tomorrow. The students are in Portland to learn about entrepreneurship and community service.
The public is invited to meet and welcome the students, and to share insight to Portland’s unique “do-it-yourself” business spirit and community service culture.
The event takes place tomorrow, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at IRCO Africa House, located at 631 NE 102nd Ave.
The students visited Grant High School today as part of their trip, organized by the U.S. State Department and World Affairs Council of Oregon. A scheduled visit to Jesuit High School was cancelled by the school out of concern for the Ebola Virus.
“While the fear of Ebola is understandable, these students have been screened by the Centers for Disease Control and are being monitored by the Multnomah County Health Department,” said Aimee Samara, Human Rights Commission chair. “It is important that we honor their human rights and support their international educational experience.”
The Human Rights Commission is guided by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”
For more information, please contact Jeff Selby at jeff.selby@portlandoregon.gov
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