Posts by worldrelief
Peacebuilding and the Evolution of World Reliefâs Village Peace Committees
DRC: The Conflict in Context
âConflict spares no one,â writes Cyprien Nkiriyumwami, World Relief Africa Director for Peacebuilding.
The context in which he writes is that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). For twenty years the DRC has experienced continuous and brutal conflict, originally a result of the tribal animosities unleashed by the Rwandan genocide in 1994, then exacerbated by the military overthrow of its president, Mobutu Sese Seko, in 1997.
There are now as many as 70 armed militias operating in the DRC, fighting over control of the land and the rich mineral resources buried within it. As many as 6 million people have been killed in the fighting or by related impacts such as disease or malnutrition. Women and children are those most affected and victimized by this conflictâincluding recruitment into armed groups, sexual violence, and many forms of gross physical violence. Today, the United Nations estimates that there are 4.7 million people displaced from their homes in DRC and another 450,000 who have fled the violence as refugees living outside of their country.
On the UN Human Development Index, which measures for life expectancy, educational, and economic factors, DRC is ranked 176 out of 188 nations worldwide. And despite its peopleâs deep desire for peace, the conflict and resulting corruption too often benefits those in positions of power, creating little incentive to stop the violence that causes so much unbelievable suffering.
In the midst of this chaos and constant simmering of open-conflict, Cyprien has been facilitating World Reliefâs efforts to transform communities of conflict into those characterized by peace through the formation of our Village Peace Committees (VPCs). VPCs are community structures composed of ten trained and respected community members who work together to solve disputes and conflicts within their localities before they reach violence. Today, the VPCs are incredibly successful vehicles for conflict prevention throughout the DRC. The road to their installation however, was not an easy one.
A Difficult Task
Over ten years ago, World Reliefâs work in the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced disruption upon disruption due to constant violence. As staff came together to discuss solutions, two staff members who worked with local churches observed that the tribal divisions in churches typically mirrored the conflict they saw in the wider community. Pondering how they could act upon this insight, Cyprien and local pastor, Marcel Serubungo, called together church leaders from across the area to a 3-day pastoral retreat to address the conflict in the community.
This task was harder than it sounds given the history and context of this request. At the time, pastors and their churches were largely segregated by tribal identity. So too were the relationships among pastors. In fact, pastors would normally avoid meeting one another or even gathering in the same room with pastors of another tribe. Now tensely gathered together in one room, Pastors Cyprien and Marcel shared their vision of pastors leading the way in bringing peace to their community and providing care to victims of violence, without consideration of tribal affiliation. Discussion was difficult and quickly devolved into accusations from pastors of one tribe against pastors of another, even as Pastors Cyprien and Marcel tried to bring pastors together in unity around their shared purpose and design as image-bearers of God.
That night, by design, Pastors Cyprien and Marcel assigned each retreat room to two pastors, one from each combating tribe. Each room was furnished with one bed. The pastors were forced to decide if they were to sleep on the floor or on the bed. In customary African fashion and considered culturally appropriate, the pastor-pairs reluctantly agreed to share each bed. Yet lying back to back, the pastors could not sleep because of the level of bitterness and mistrust against one another.
The Birth of the VPCs
The next morning, the pastors wearily re-convened to continue conversation about their influential roles in conflict mediation. As the day went along, defenses began to fall and conversations moved into a recognition of the need to be involved in brokering peace. That night, back in their rooms, the pastors engaged in willing conversation and were finally able to sleep, this time side by side. The next morning, well rested, the pastors regathered. The conversation turned personal as one pastor stood and confessed publicly his hatred for pastors from the other tribe. One by one, pastors stood to confess their own sin against one another. Confessions turned to weeping and forgiving-embraces, which turned to corporate repentance and a final decision as a group to pursue reconciliation and peace in their communities. The Pastors shared a collective and unifying sentiment as they left the retreat, âHow can we expect our people to live any differently, if we ourselves cannot gather together in peace and unity?â
That water-shed gathering shifted things significantly. Meaningful pastor-friendships formed across tribal differences. Regular pastor gatherings commenced to discuss peacebuilding in their congregations. These gatherings and relationships soon led to pulpit-exchanges, where pastors from opposite tribes would preach at the otherâs church on a Sunday. At first, parishioners were shocked by these actions, but eventually began to realize that âIf pastors could meet together, so too could they.â The example of these pastors cascaded into their churches and out into the community, as tangible hope began to form within their people.
VPCs Around the Globe
The lessons learned from the early peacebuilding efforts in the DRC have today formed the foundation from which World Reliefâs peacebuilding efforts have expanded into other fragile countries, including South Sudan, Burundi, Pakistan, and elsewhere.
Today, VPCs are able to operate independently and successfully because they are acknowledged by villagers as neutral, impartial and effective conflict resolution facilitators. Not only do they formalize the process by which tribal leaders and community members publicly address past and current tensions, but they also encourage and offer this process free of charge. These local committees have resolved thousands of conflicts which would have otherwise escalated into cycles of violence causing loss of land, property, and life on mass scale and tearing families and communities apart.
Peace building matters because it helps people and communities to refrain from using force to impose their views on others. It helps people to accept others as they are, to tolerate differences, respect the vulnerable, especially women and children, and eventually, to come voluntarily to solutions acceptable by all.
VPCs have resolved conflicts as small as land and livestock disputes, as well as cases referred to them by the local police, but they also accomplish something much bigger: They create hope, courage and faith. Hope that problems can be resolved and that a better future exists. Courage to address larger relational issues and conflicts despite historical failures and fatigue. And faith, as communities begin to see that the church is both relevant for their communities and that the teachings of scripture do make a difference.
Today, World Relief continues to pioneer our VPC work across fragile states. Though we face countless challenges and roadblocks to this work, we take heart, because of our confidence in men and women like Cyprien who lean into the discomfort and fear courageously, in faith. And we have great faith that this work will continue to be transformative in the lives of thousands across the world.
CONTRIBUTORS
Gil Odendaal, Ph.D, D.Min, is the SVP of Integral Mission Division at World Relief. He previously served as the Global Director for PEACE Implementation with Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California as well as Global Director for the HIV/AIDS Initiative under Kay Warren. Gil has 30 years of ministry experience as a missionary, pastor, educator, leader and public speaker, including serving as Regional Coordinator for Africa, Russia and Easter Europe with Medical Ambassadors International. Gil serves on the Lausanne Movement Integral Mission leadership team as well as a board member of ACCORD Network. Gil and his wife, Elmarie, were born and raised in South Africa. They have three adult children and five grandchildren.
Cyprien Nkiriyumwami is World Reliefâs Africa Director for Integral Mission, Church Empowerment and Peace Building. Trained as community development facilitator and working in that capacity since 1984, Cyprien has designed and led programs that lean on local churches and grassroots structures of volunteers in reconciling people and communities in the war torn Democratic Republic of Congo and in Pakistan.
Damon Schroeder is the Director for US Integral Mission at World Relief. Springing from his experience as a missionary kid from Cyprus, he has worked for 17 years, equipping churches in the US to holistically welcome and build community with newly arriving refugees and immigrants.
What is Your One Act of Love?
It’s been a remarkable and difficult month for so many people around the world. If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, you are not alone.
A message from World Relief’s President, Scott Arbeiter:
As you consider your one act of love in this current season, we invite you to learn more about the areas in which we’re currently responding:
Hurricane Harvey Recovery
Hurricane Irma Response
South Asia Flooding
DACA / Dreamer Advocacy Response
Refugee Crisis
Africa Food Crisis
DACA and DREAM Act 101 – 2017 Update
Photo by EPA-EFE/ALBA VIGARAY
On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Those whom this directly affects have an all-too-clear understanding of the realities this decision creates. For those who may not fully understand DACA, The DREAM Act and Dreamersâand the issues surrounding eachâwe hope this brief primer will help.
What is DACA?
The short story is that DACA has provided a pathway for children and young adults who came to the United States with their parents to legally obtain a Social Security Number, driverâs license, enroll in college and work. While their parents either came to the U.S. unlawfully or overstayed their visas, these kids usually had no choice but to come with their parents, and this immigration policy helped provide opportunities for those youth who had already been in our country for years. DACA doesnât offer a pathway towards permanent legal status or U.S. citizenship. It also doesnât give individuals access to federal financial aid programs. It simply affords them the opportunity to further their own development, provide for themselves and their loved ones, and participate in their communities without fear of deportation.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), announced by President Obama on June 15th, 2012, has allowed immigrants who
- were born on or after June 16, 1981,
- arrived to the United States before age 16 and
- have lived in the U.S. since June 15, 2007
to be eligible for work authorization in the United States and protection from deportation for two years. These individuals are generally called âDreamers,â named so after the DREAM Act, a piece of legislation first introduced in Congress in 2001 that would afford these individuals permanent legal status.
How many people have DACA?
About 800,000.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of March 2017, 787,580, individuals have been granted DACA. Individuals from Mexico represent the largest number of DACA recipients, followed by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and South Korea.
What does the termination of DACA mean?
It means that 800,000 children or young adults wouldââat a minimumââlose their jobs which may mean lacking the income to make payments on a car loan, rent, mortgage or school tuition or to help support their families. It could also mean being sent back to their countries of birth, even though many cannot remember living in any country other than the U.S., where they have grown up.
The White House and Department of Justice announced the termination of DACA on September 5, 2017. This means the Department of Homeland Security is no longer accepting any new applications for DACA. Those with DACA due to expire between September 5, 2017, and March 5, 2018, can apply for a two-year renewal by October 5, 2017. For others, DACA could end as early as March 6, 2018. Work permits issued under DACA will be honored until they expire.
What is the DREAM Act?
A permanent solution.
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan bill that would offer a permanent solution for Dreamers by allowing them to eventually earn citizenship if they go to college, maintain a job, or serve in the U.S. military. The latest DREAM Act was introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on July 20, 2017, and a companion bill with bipartisan support has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.
What happens if Congress doesn’t act?
If Congress does not pass a measure protecting DACA recipients, nearly 300,000 people in 2018 alone would lose their permission to work and be at risk for deportation, with DACA protections for all 800,000 individuals to be phased out by March 2020.
Both the Senate and the House need to pass it, and the President needs to sign a bill by March 6, 2018, in order for DACA recipients to continue to be protected from deportation.
But arenât Dreamers here illegally? Why should the U.S. allow them to stay?
While their parents made the choice to enter the U.S. illegally or overstay a visa, Dreamers, who were children when they arrived, did not make that choice for themselves. Thereâs no place in American law that penalizes children for the action of their parents. For many Dreamers, the U.S. is the only home theyâve ever known. Passing the DREAM Act is an opportunity to fix the law so that Dreamers correct their situation, earn citizenship and remain the country they call home.
Where can I find more information?
The website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has more information on DACA. Also, the Department of Homeland Security has posted answers to a list of questions about its plans to rescind the program.
Individuals who believe they may be eligible to renew DACA should immediately consult with an experienced immigration attorney or a non-profit organization (including many World Relief offices and local churches supported by World Relief) that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide low-cost immigration legal services. Refer to this map for a site near you.
I support DACA and Dreamers, but am not sure how Iâone personâcan help. Do you have any ideas?
There are many ways you can help. Here are five simple ideas:
- For starters, consider following World Relief on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to learn more and share posts you agree with.
- To take action, write your members of Congress urging them to support the DREAM Act.
- If youâre a church leader or pastor, consider signing onto this letter which we will send to your Representative and Senator.
- Write and submit an op-ed or a letter to the editor of the local paper about why you support Dreamers.
- If you have a story to tell about yourself or someone you know who has DACA, consider sharing how itâs helped your or their life on social media. This is a human issue and we need to keep it humanized.
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To support the work of World Relief, you can donate today.
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World Relief Urges Congress to Pass Legislative Solution for Dreamers In Light of Termination of DACA
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
CONTACTS:
Jenny Yang | 443.527.8363
Matthew Soerens | 920.428.9534
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World Relief Urges Congress to Pass Legislative Solution for Dreamers
In Light of Termination of DACA
BALTIMORE, MD â Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which since 2012 has allowed approximately 800,000 young people who came to the United States as children to obtain employment authorization and a reprieve from the threat of deportation.
Last week, World Relief urged President Trump to refrain from rescinding the DACA program, at least until such time as Congress has passed a legislative solution addressing the plight of these individuals. We have further renewed our call upon Congress to expeditiously pass a bill such as the DREAM Act or the BRIDGE Act, both of which have been introduced with bipartisan cosponsors in the current Congress.
According to the Department of Justice announcement today, the administration will not consider new applications for DACA dated after Sept. 5. Those with DACA due to expire between today and March 5, 2018 can apply for a two-year renewal by October 5. For others, DACA could end as early as March 6, 2018.
âThe termination of DACA places more urgency on Congress to pass a legislative solution for Dreamers,â said Scott Arbeiter, President of World Relief. âWe are deeply concerned for individuals whose status will expire in March and in subsequent months, and we believe itâs incumbent upon our Congressional leaders to act as soon as possible.”
âThese Dreamers have willingly worked with the government in good faith in order to pursue their dreams living in the United States, the only home many of them have ever known,â continued Tim Breene, CEO of World Relief. âThe decision to end DACA puts them in a more precarious situation, but we hope Congress will prioritize a legislative solution that will allow these Dreamers to flourish in our country.â
âWe will receive any and all applications in order to support DACA recipients as much as possible,â said Courtney Tudi, immigrant legal services director for World Relief, who supports local World Relief offices and a network of local churches in providing authorized, affordable immigration legal services. âWe will also continue to support any churches and local ministries as they serve immigrants in their local communities.â
Evangelical leaders, many of whom have individuals with DACA within their congregations, have also spoken up in recent days, urging Congress to act, including Bill and Lynne Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL, Erwin McManus of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, CA, Dave Gibbons, Founder, Newsong Church in Santa Ana, CA, Felix Cabrera of Iglesia Bautista Central in Oklahoma City, OK, Thabiti Anyabwile of Anacostia River Church in Washington, DC, and Eugene Cho of Quest Church in Seattle, WA. Their full statements can be found here.
World Relief also joined a letter with leaders from the National Association of Evangelicals, the Southern Baptist Conventionâs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the Wesleyan Church, and Korean Churches for Community Developmentâall of which collectively form the leadership of the Evangelical Immigration Tableâin sending letters to President Trump and Congressional leaders urging them to protect those with DACA status and to work together toward a legislative solution. These national leaders are echoing the sentiment of hundreds of local evangelical leaders on the ground. An open sign-on letter created by the Evangelical Immigration Table, of which World Relief is a member, gathered nearly 1,000 signers in a few days from pastors and church leaders in 45 states supporting Dreamers.
These pleas from local and national leaders echo the views of most evangelical Christians âin the pews.â Polling by the Public Religion Research Institute finds that a majority of both white evangelical Protestants and non-white Protestants support granting permanent legal status to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children if they attend college or serve in the military, the basic premise of the DREAM Act.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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World Relief is a global humanitarian relief and development organization that stands with the vulnerable and partners with local churches to end the cycle of suffering, transform lives and build sustainable communities. With over 70 years of experience, World Relief works in 20 countries worldwide through disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding and has offices in the United States that specialize in refugee and immigration services.
Website | worldrelief.org Twitter | @WorldRelief
World Relief Calls for â21 Days of Peaceâ in Lead Up to United Nationsâ International Day of Peace on September 21
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
AUGUST 31, 2017
CONTACT:
The KAIROS Company for World Relief
MediaInquiries@theKcompany.co
434.426.5310
World Relief Calls for â21 Days of Peaceâ in Lead Up to United Nationsâ
International Day of Peace on September 21
Launching on September 1, the 21-Day Resource Will Serve as a Tangible Guide Reflecting on Personal, Community, and Global Peace.
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BALTIMORE, MD â Global humanitarian and development organization World Relief is calling the church to personal reflection in the lead up to the United Nationsâ International Day of Peace on September 21. On September 1, World Relief released the first of three weekly guides titled, 21 Days of Peace, a resource for personal reflection centered on the idea of peace and the power it has to change hearts, communities and ultimately, the world.
21 Days of Peace is organized into three parts, one for each week:
- Week One â Personal Peace
- Week Two â Peace Within Communities
- Week Three â Global Peace
â21 Days of Peace is a way to highlight the need for peace within ourselves first and foremost, and then to give people tangible advice and resources on how to bring peace to others,â says Scott Arbeiter, President of World Relief.
âThis campaign gives people a way to connect with whatâs happening on a global scale, understanding that in areas of conflict and fragility, the church needs to be peace makers in a volatile world,â continued Tim Breene, CEO of World Relief.
Each dayâs reflection also invites the reader into different modes of reflection, including Bible readings, written journaling, and simple action steps.
âThere are a lot of things in the news, in our families and in our daily lives that create stress and rob us of peace, and then as a result, prevent us from being agents of peace in the world,â adds Arbeiter. âAs a Christian organization, we believe it when Christ said, âPeace I leave with you; my peace I give you.â But what does that mean tangibly? How do we build a culture of peace? Sometimes itâs as simple as having someone point us in the right direction with a prayer, a Bible verse, or a small, intentional act of kindness that makes all the difference in that personâs life. Thatâs what the 21 Days of Peace is designed to do.â
âWe have seen the church rise up in times of intense conflict to bring communities together to be peace makersâitâs what Jesus calls us to do. We hope this 21-day exercise will reinvigorate the churchâs commitment to be peace makers in a broken world,â said Jenny Yang, Senior Vice President of Advocacy at World Relief.
To download the 21 Days of Peace guide, visit worldrelief.org/21Days.
Download the PDF version of this press release
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World Relief is a global humanitarian relief and development organization that stands with the vulnerable and partners with local churches to end the cycle of suffering, transform lives and build sustainable communities. With over 70 years of experience, World Relief works in 20 countries worldwide through disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding and has offices in the United States that specialize in refugee and immigration services.
Website | worldrelief.org Twitter | @WorldRelief
Evangelical Pastors Urge President, Congress to Protect âDreamersâ
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
AUGUST 31, 2017
CONTACTS:
Jenny Yang | 443.527.8363
Matthew Soerens | 920.428.9534
Evangelical Pastors Urge President, Congress to Protect âDreamersâ
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BALTIMORE, MD â Recent news reports suggest that President Trump is considering the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which since 2012 has allowed approximately 800,000 young people who came to the United States as children to obtain employment authorization and a reprieve from the threat of deportation.
Earlier this week, World Relief urged President Trump to refrain from rescinding the DACA program, at least until such time as Congress has passed a legislative solution addressing the plight of these individuals. We have further renewed our call upon Congress to expeditiously pass a bill such as the DREAM Act or the BRIDGE Act, both of which have been introduced with bipartisan cosponsors in the current Congress.
Evangelical leaders, many of whom have individuals with DACA within their congregations, have also spoken up in recent daysâ including the following leaders:
Lynne Hybels, Advocate for Global Engagement, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL
âOur church is deeply invested in serving the immigrant community in the Chicagoland area. Weâve hosted workshops helping dozens of brave young people to apply for the DACA program. Weâve witnessed firsthand the hope that the DACA program has brought to individuals who have wanted nothing more than the chance to pursue an education and lead a productive life, just as our own children have done. To end the program now, without action from Congress first, would be devastatingâfor them and for the communities that benefit from their work, ingenuity, and courage.â
Erwin McManus, Founder, MOSAIC, Los Angeles, CA
âThe roughly 800,000 people who have benefitted from the DACA programâmore of whom live in in my city of Los Angeles than anywhere else in the countryâare American in every way except on paper. They are not to be feared but embraced as immigrants who define the American spirit. We are a nation of immigrants. We are a nation defined by openness and inclusion. We are big enough to rise above this challenge and choose the path that elevates the best in all of us.â
Dave Gibbons, Founder, Newsong Church, Santa Ana, CA
âThe God we know in the Scriptures lovingly focuses on those who are vulnerable, the hurting and the immigrants. Symbiotic with our love for God is our love for the outsider. I urge our elected officials will not only find a permanent generous solution for âDreamers,â young people who came or were brought as children to the country, but also for the broader immigrant community, who contribute so much to our country economically, culturally, and spiritually.â
Rev. FĂ©lix Cabrera, Lead Pastor, Iglesia Bautista Central, Oklahoma City, OK, and Co-Founder, Hispanic Baptist Pastors Alliance
âTo end the DACA program now would be immoral, violating the trust of young immigrants, including those within my congregation and many other Hispanic Southern Baptists throughout the country, who trusted the federal government when it asked them to register and provide their personal information. It would also be economically disastrous, forcing the laying off of hundreds of thousands of trained employees, leaving both their employers and the employees in an incredibly difficult spot. It could trigger a domino effect that harms many citizens (as well as the Dreamers and their families), when those who have lost their jobs would struggle to pay rent or a mortgage payment, miss car payments, be forced to withdraw from college or graduate school, and have trouble providing basic food and clothing for their families. Rather than taking another step that will exacerbate ethnic and political divisions in our nation, I pray that President Trump and Congressional Leaders from both parties will work together to pass legislation to protect Dreamers, and in the process help to unify our nation.â
Thabiti Anyabwile, Pastor, Anacostia River Church, Washington, DC
âMy church family includes a good number of first and second-generation immigrants. They make our church and community stronger, just as immigrants make our nation stronger. Perhaps thatâs why the Bible instructs us to be sure to take care of the âstrangers and sojournersâ in our communities, remembering that we too were aliens and strangers at one time. While immigration policy overall is tremendously complex, one particular questionâwhat should happen with individuals who came as children to the country, who have already been granted work authorizationâis something I believe we can answer fairly easily. We should do all that we can to provide opportunity for these children to flourish in our country. Scripture commands us to have a particular concern for those who are vulnerable, and immigrants are repeatedly mentioned as a group of people who fit into that category. I hope that our elected officials will find a permanent solution for Dreamers, young people who came or were brought as children to the country, and the broader immigrant community.â
Eugene Cho, Pastor, Quest Church, Seattle, WA
âAs an American citizen and a Christian pastor, I am deeply concerned about the possible termination of the DACA program. This will impact nearly 800,000 individuals and countless more when you consider their respective families. I personally know some of these young people and I can attest to the many ways they deeply contribute to their communities, neighborhoods, cities, and nation. Jesus reserved some of his strongest words of rebuke for those who caused a stumbling block for children. To prevent individuals who were brought to this country as kids, through no decision of their own, from working, pursuing education, and contributing to the full extent of their God-given potential is not only short-sighted, itâs also unjust. I join countless others in asking for a legislative solution to help Dreamers reach their full potential.â
This week, World Relief president Scott Arbeiter also joined leaders from the National Association of Evangelicals, the Southern Baptist Conventionâs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the Wesleyan Church, and Korean Churches for Community Developmentâall of which collectively form the leadership of the Evangelical Immigration Tableâin sending letters to President Trump and Congressional leaders urging them to protect those with DACA status and to work together toward a legislative solution.
These pleas from local and national leaders echo the views of most evangelical Christians âin the pews.â Polling by the Public Religion Research Institute finds that a majority of both white evangelical Protestants and non-white Protestants support granting permanent legal status to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children if they attend college or serve in the military, the basic premise of the DREAM Act.
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World Relief is a global humanitarian relief and development organization that stands with the vulnerable and partners with local churches to end the cycle of suffering, transform lives and build sustainable communities. With over 70 years of experience, World Relief works in 20 countries worldwide through disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding and has offices in the United States that specialize in refugee and immigration services.
Website | worldrelief.org Twitter | @WorldRelief
World Relief Urges Swift Congressional Action to Protect Individuals with DACA Status
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
AUGUST 29, 2017
CONTACTS:
Jenny Yang | 443.527.8363
Matthew Soerens | 920.428.9534
World Relief Urges Swift Congressional Action to Protect Individuals with DACA Status
Â
BALTIMORE, MD â Recent news reports suggest that President Trump is seriously considering the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which since 2012 has allowed approximately 800,000 young people who came to the United States as children to obtain employment authorization and a reprieve from the threat of deportation.
We have witnessed first-hand the transformation in these young peopleâs lives as they have been given the opportunity to work lawfully, which they have used to advance their educations, to help provide for their families, and to serve their local churches and the broader community.
World Relief has a long history of serving and advocating for vulnerable immigrants and refugees. Along with our local church partners, we have assisted thousands of individuals in applying for or renewing their DACA designation through provision of affordable Immigration Legal Services. World Relief believes that such a designation has afforded hard working, decent young people an opportunity to live their lives with a level of security and opportunity that allows them to flourish. Such a designation is needed to ensure these young people can continue to pursue their dreams even as Congress comes up with a more comprehensive solution.
Like many other employers throughout the country, World Relief has also been richly blessed by several staff members whose work authorization is contingent upon the DACA program. Along with many businesses and organizations, our ministry would be harmed if we were no longer able to employ these superb individuals in whom we have invested training and staff development resources.
As such, we are deeply troubled by the news that the program may be rescinded, and we urge President Trump to keep the program in place at least until such time as Congress passes a legislative solution to the legal status challenges faced by these individuals.
We urge Members of Congress to expeditiously pass such legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan support in various polls. Most Americans agree that a young person who was brought to the United States as a young childâwho has otherwise abided by the law, has applied themselves at school, and who voluntarily provided their information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at our federal governmentâs invitation to initially apply for DACAâshould maintain the opportunity to work, pay taxes, and contribute. It would be unjust to punish these individuals for a decision made, in most cases, by their parents.
Members of Congress in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have already introduced bipartisan legislation including the DREAM Act and the BRIDGE Act that would sustain, at least on an interim basis, these individualsâ employment authorization and protection from deportation. We applaud these efforts, and urge all Members of Congress to quickly pass one of these bills without delay.
âAs followers of Jesus, we believe that advocating for this legislation is an important way to tangibly love our neighbors and to stand in solidarity with the many in the U.S. whose livelihoods depend upon this program,â said World Relief president Scott Arbeiter. âTo end the DACA program at this point, without a legislative solution, would be unjust and cruel,â added World Relief CEO Tim Breene, âWe urge those in positions of authority to do all they can to stand with these young people who have contributed so much to our country and have the God-given potential to contribute so much more if we, as a society, will allow them.â
As our nation faces a series of trialsâincluding a devastating hurricane in Texas, the aftermath of violence perpetrated by white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, and now the possibility of hundreds of thousands of young people being put at risk if the DACA program is terminatedâWorld Relief calls upon Christians everywhere to pray for our nation. In obedience to Scripture, we pray in particular for those entrusted to positions of political leadership, that all who call this country home, including those who are most vulnerable, âmay live peaceful and quiet livesâ (1 Timothy 2:2).
Download the PDF version of this press release
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World Relief is a global humanitarian relief and development organization that stands with the vulnerable and partners with local churches to end the cycle of suffering, transform lives and build sustainable communities. With over 70 years of experience, World Relief works in 20 countries worldwide through disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding and has offices in the United States that specialize in refugee and immigration services.
Website | worldrelief.org Twitter | @WorldRelief
When a Refugee Childâs Education Stops
While living in the south Asian country of Bhutan, Pabiâs family was forced to flee their home due to political and ethnic persecution. At a young age, Pabi became a refugee. And like many refugee children, Pabiâs education risked coming to a halt. When her family fled to nearby Nepal, Pabi received some education, but the conditions of the school proved too harsh for her to flourish.
Eventually, the UN selected Pabiâs family for resettlement in the United Statesâspecifically in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As World Reliefâs Dupage/Aurora office began to resettle Pabiâs family, staff and volunteers carefully considered how they could help provide Pabi with the tools she needed to thrive in her education.
Pabi was only in 5th grade when she began schooling in the U.S. She remembers not being able to speak English and feeling fearful. âIt was really scary, and I was worried every day,â Pabi recalls. âFor a month I cried every night because students were not nice. I used to cry under the blanket so my parents couldnât find out that I was crying.â
Thankfully, Pabi was able to join World Reliefâs after-school program at an area church where she quickly found friends and academic assistance. She also befriended Nepali students, who were in higher level classes in school and helped her quickly learn English.
With a strengthened foundation because of the support Pabi received in the after school program, Pabi was poised to flourish in her academic pursuits. She continued to excel throughout middle school and high school. In fact, her academic achievement has resulted in a college scholarship through philanthropist Bob Carrâs Give Something Back Foundation (GSBF); Pabi was selected as only one of seven scholarship winners out of over 40 applicants. The scholarship, along with government financial aid, will allow Pabi to attend college tuition-free.
Pabiâs education could have ended the day she and her family fled Bhutan. But by the grace of God, Pabiâs tireless efforts and the help of World Relief and partner churches, Pabi will become the first in her family to attend college and is now filled with hope for her bright future.
Pabiâs story is one of many. Around the world, World Relief has made it a priority to partner with local churches and organizations to provide safe spaces for refugee children to continue learning, especially when formal education is not a viable option. In the U.S., we help newly arriving refugee families enroll in schools, provide school supplies to children and conduct after-school tutoringâensuring that refugee children like Pabi can not only restart their education but thrive at every level. You can play a critical role in supporting refugees like Pabi through the work of World Relief.
Join us as we invest in the future of refugees around the world.
When Refugees Go Back to School (Q&A)
Children across the U.S. are returning to school. Recently resettled refugees will be among those children. Tabitha McDuffee, Communications Coordinator for World Relief Dupage/Aurora (WRDA) sat down with both Malita Gardner, Children & Youth Program Manager at WRDA, and Deborah, a former refugee from Southeast Asia and staff member at WRDA, to discuss what the back-to-school season means for refugees.
Their conversation addresses the challenges refugee children face in their education and the ways World Relief and our partners come alongside them, working to ensure a bright educational future for each child.
Tabitha: What happens to a childâs education when his or her family is forced to flee their home and country?
Deborah: When a family is forced to flee their home and country, a childâs education is interrupted. In some cases families may have to flee on such short notice that they do not have time to gather school documents or transcripts before leaving their home. This can make it difficult for children to enroll in school in the country they flee to.
What are some of the challenges refugee children face when they arrive in their temporary host country, before they are permanently resettled? Do they even have the option of going to school in these other countries?
Deborah: Oftentimes, the classes are very large, and the teachers are not well trained. The quality of education is very poor. Parents often do not encourage their children to attend school in the host country or refugee camp because they view their situation as temporary. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR 2016 Global Trends Report], refugees remain in a host country for an average of 17 years before returning home or being resettled. This means that refugee children may miss out on large portions of their education while in a refugee camp. If a child escapes their home when they are 12, and then they spends ten years in a refugee camp before coming to the U.S., when they get here they are too old to attend school.
When a refugee childâs family is resettled in the U.S., is public education immediately available to them?
Malita: Yes. U.S. resettlement agencies like World Relief assist refugee families to enroll their children in school, usually within 30 days of arrival.
And what are the greatest challenges refugee children face as they restart their education in the U.S.?
Language.
Malita: Refugee childrenâs biggest hurdle is learning English. They must progress in their language ability in order to thrive and succeed in school. However, children tend to learn a new language very quickly, so they may become fluent in as little as 18-24 months after arriving in the U.S.
Culture.
Deborah explains that schools are operated very differently in different parts of the world, so refugee children must adjust to this as well. Co-ed schools may be a new experience for some children. For her own children, the differences in grading systems were confusing.
Deborah: âI wish that teachers were more direct when telling me about my childrenâs progress. One of my kids was struggling in a class, but his teacher did not sound very serious or urgent when she told me, so I didnât realize how important it was.â
Integration.
Refugee children can become isolated when they begin school in the U.S.
Malita: Refugee children are enrolled in an ESL (English as a Second Language) track so that they can improve their English while they attend school. While they benefit from spending much of the day with their assigned ESL teacher and other refugee children, it may isolate them from the rest of their classmates.
In the Middle East, World Relief works alongside local partners to host Kids Clubs, safe spaces for children to learn, play and grow. How does World Relief help refugee children arriving to the U.S.? What ongoing help and support does World Relief and its partner churches provide as children continue their education?
Malita: World Relief assists refugee children by enrolling them in school. Some local offices and partner churches organize after-school clubs or one-on-one tutoring for students. In some cases, ongoing help and support may include regular follow-up visits during the first year of resettlement to make sure that refugee children are adjusting well. Refugee families may also be connected with an individual or group of volunteers from the local community who visit them weekly to help the kids with homework, practice conversational English with the parents and answer questions they might have about American culture and practices.
What is the outcome when a refugee child begins to thrive educationally here in the U.S.?
Malita: Refugee children have a lot of potential. For instance, I think of a high school girl who was nominated as the school districtâs âStudent of the Month,â just four years after arriving in the U.S. She gave a speech to the school board and did an amazing job. It was so encouraging to see her success. When refugee children learn English, become involved in extracurricular activities and have access to academic support and resources, they begin to thrive. Through our youth programs, World Relief is privileged to play an important role in many success stories like this one.
World Reliefâs work with refugee children and youth plays a vital role in their adjustment to new schools and their success in their new communities.
If you would like to donate to the work of World Relief during this back-to-school season visit our Refugee Crisis page.
Standing Against Hate and Bigotry, World Relief President Pens Letter of Repentance and Calls Churches to Act with Moral Clarity and Courage
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
AUGUST 17, 2017
CONTACTS:
Jenny Yang | 443.527.8363
Christina Klinepeter | 773.724.0605
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Standing Against Hate and Bigotry, World Relief President Pens Letter
of Repentance and Calls Churches to Act with Moral Clarity and Courage
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BALTIMORE, MD â Today n the Washington Post, Scott Arbeiter, President of World Relief, issued an open letter of repentance regarding the vile acts of hatred and terrorism Charlottesville and our greater nation experienced this past weekend.
âAs a white evangelical leader, I have said too little on racism. I ask forgiveness. This malignant racism has lingered far too long. In white churches across America, we have told ourselves that we have made great strides, but this has proven untrue,â said Scott Arbeiter in the letter. âAs white Christian leaders and pastors, we must also acknowledge our unintended but clear complicity in this.â
As an organization that embraces and promotes diversity and service to all, World Relief grieves the affront that racism is to the dignity of all. For over 70 years, World Relief has empowered the church to serve the most vulnerable with passion and a sense of deep privilege. World Relief renews that commitment today recognizing the challenge is greater in the United States than previously understood. Arbeiter continued, âWe will do so in our practical ministry and through our relationships. We will do so in our advocacy for just laws and our rejection of unjust systems that perpetuate poverty, exclusion and bigotry. And we will do so in our partnership with thousands of pastors in our network and beyond, calling them to also act with renewed moral clarity and courage.â
Tim Breene, CEO of World Relief, adds, “The foundation of our work throughout the world is a belief in the dignity of each person as made in the image of God. Our defense of this dignity is not new. Rather, this letter reflects the long-held values of our World Relief staff as lived out in practical ways over many decades. However, in this moment of national consequence we wanted to go on record and declare once again who we are.”
Download the PDF version of this press release
Read the open letter on the Washington Post site
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World Relief is a global humanitarian relief and development organization that stands with the vulnerable and partners with local churches to end the cycle of suffering, transform lives and build sustainable communities. With over 70 years of experience, World Relief works in 20 countries worldwide through disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding and has offices in the United States that specialize in refugee and immigration services.
Website | worldrelief.org Twitter | @WorldRelief
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