Posts Tagged ‘Refugees’
Empowering Refugees for the Job Market
Do you remember your first job? Maybe you delivered pizzas in high school, flipped burgers at McDonaldās or folded clothes at the Gap. Having no formal working skills yet, you probably fumbled your way through the interview process and the first days on the job. Now take that potentially awkward experience and imagine how difficult the process of getting a first job can be as a refugee in a new country.
One of the most challenging tasks that refugees face is finding employment. With little knowledge of where to look or how to go about applying for jobs, the process can seem overwhelming. But these new neighbors are eager to be self-sustaining and look for opportunities to establish themselves and their families as valued members of their new community.
Partnering with a local church, World Relief Boise recently led a job search workshop, specifically designed for high school students looking to understand more about potential opportunities in their community. They learned about U.S. work culture, employer expectations, how to look for a job, identifying skills and employment history, and had practice interviews.
Volunteers, including a Human Resources Specialist and General Manager from a local restaurant, spent the entire day working alongside refugees. Reflecting on the success of the day, one of the volunteers observed that, āthis was beneficial not only for the refugees in attendance, but [also] for our companyās managers (who conduct most of the interviews for us) and would love to get [more] involved in the process as well.ā
With the help of these employment workshops, refugees all across the United States have been placed in jobs, growing in independence and transitioning to life in America. Empowering these new neighbors with education about employment in their community provides a foundation for success for everyone involved.
Do you want to help refugees prepare for the job market in your community? To learn more about life-giving opportunities like this, contact a World Relief office near you.
Celebration, Hope and Giving – Looking Back and Planning Forward
In just a few days, many people around the world will ring in the New Year. Itās a time of celebration, a time of hope and generosity. Here are a few of the things weāre celebrating at World Reliefā¦
Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Though there is still much work to be done for stability and reconciliation to ensue in the DRC, people like Pastor Fabian are paving the way for sustainable peace. Having been kidnapped by rebels himself, he leads his congregation in word and deed as he cares for all people, no matter their tribe or ethnicity.
Pastor Fabian in Congo
Friendship for refugees in the US. Remember Michael andAwet? Both originally from Eritrea, they were forced to flee because of violence. Leaving everything familiar, they were resettled as refugees in the United States, where they met and became roommates. World Relief in DuPage-Aurora helped these new friends transition to their new reality in this new environment. Today, Michael and Awet are paying it forward by helping other refugees with transportation in their time of need.
Good local leadershipand forgiveness in Cambodia. Orn Raim is a leader in her community in Cambodia. Trained by World Relief in anti-trafficking and conflict resolution, sheās teaching others in her village what she has learned and seeing deep transformation ā violence against women and children has reduced by 90% in her community.
Weāve also welcomed 7,948 refugees out of danger into loving communities in the United States. 147,083 women and men have been equipped to overcome material poverty through Savings for Life groups. 3,100 peacemakers have been trained to resolve conflict at the community level in war-torn areas. And more than 3,000 churches have been mobilized to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
Even though weāve seen incredible progress, thereās much more to do and we canāt do it alone. Will you be a part of this work in 2015 and join us as we continue to celebrate with hope and generosity?
A Warm Welcome for Refugees This Christmas | We Welcome Refugees
Christmas, itās one of the most celebrated times of year in the US. With millions of people traveling to visit family, trees on display, and gift exchanges with loved ones, churches across the country will overflow with visitors as they remember the glorious and scandalous birth of Jesus Christ. But many of our neighbors have significant needs this Christmas season, making the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes, a bit daunting.
Through partnering with churches and volunteers, World Relief helped 7,948 refugees resettle in the US this year. Having fled their country from war, persecution, or natural disaster, World Relief comes alongside these new neighbors to make sure the first few months of transitioning to this new culture are as seamless as possible. In light of this and the truth of Jesus Christās gospel message, Christians around the country have responded to the call to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35).
In Fort Worth, Texas, more than 25 volunteers recently hosted a Coats & Cocoa event that provided winter items to over 350 refugees. After distributing the coats, volunteers got to visit the refugee families to share hot cocoa and sing Christmas carols ā sharing some of the cheerful American traditions with their new neighbors who might have never experienced these before. One refugee kept saying, āPraise God! Praise God!ā when coats were given to her family.
With an overabundance of winter gear donations for the event, Fort Worth will be able to provide for the needs of refugees that will be resettled in the coming months as well. This is another great example of the local church doing what Jesus did ā sharing Godās love through tangible provision, relationship and compassion.
Join us as we continue to welcome families from all over the world to celebrate this cherished and treasured season.
For more information on how you can get involved in welcoming refugees, please contact your local World Relief office. Visit https://worldrelief.org/us-offices.
Volunteering 101: Johnny’s Story
What does it mean to volunteer? Most of the responses to this question revolve around the idea of giving of yourself, your time and talents, to serve others. The notion of volunteering is timeless and understood globally. Throughout history, people have served the underserved, supported those in need, and provided relief for the disadvantaged.
With an increase in technological advances, the world has become accessible as individuals and groups travel to more countries than ever before. With over 70,000 refugees being resettled in America each year, World Relief has come alongside the local Church to work on the front lines of refugee resettlement.
Johnny, a businessman who, for most of his life, put a significant amount of time and effort into his work, reevaluated what it means to truly do āGodās work.ā Now in his 50ās, Johnny believes simply that āit is incumbent on Christians to love God and love othersā. Wanting to be a part of Godās bigger picture, Johnny and his wife came alongside a refugee family from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were entering an entirely new country and way of life.
Johnny and his wife not only helped set up an apartment for this family, but welcomed them with open arms at the airport and befriended them over the coming months. As Johnny knows, āEveryone is aiming at something. What is that and what should it be?ā
Here at World Relief, we are moved to come alongside refugees in many ways. Though this may be something as simple as providing a meal for a family who is new to a country, we believe that true friendships and deep relationships will be life-changing for all involved. Over 95% of our workforce is made up of volunteers, so itās in our DNA to share these life-changing testimonies and simply come alongside our neighbors, especially those who may be new to our country.
For more on Johnnyās powerful decision to volunteer with refugees, visit https://deidox.com/film/johnny/.
Strangers at Our Table – A True Celebration of Thanksgiving with Refugees
Life changing moments happen at the dinner table. It was at the table where Jesus Christ shared his last supper with his disciples and demonstrated the transformational grace he was about to provide. It was at the table where some early European refugees and local Native Americans shared a peaceful meal, celebrating the harvest after a harsh season that initiated the first Thanksgiving in what is now the United States. And itās at the dinner table where many of us will gather this Thursday to celebrate the holiday. But who are we inviting to the table? As we prepare to feast this week, we canāt help but think of the thousands of refugees who might be celebrating this holiday for the first time. But this wonāt happen if we donāt open up our homes and welcome these strangers to our tables.
With the help of churches and volunteers, World Relief resettles more than 5,000 refugees each year. Everyone involved shows Godās love by giving their time, talent and treasure to make sure these strangers are welcome. After what is usually a long and grueling process of fleeing extreme hardships in their home nations, the comfort of knowing they have helpful friends in a completely new environment is an answer to prayer for many refugees.
Around the US, churches and volunteers are flinging their doors open to welcome refugees into their communities this Thanksgiving season. Travis Trice, World Reliefās Church Relations Coordinator in Jacksonville, Florida, knows the incredible impact of the work of the local Church: āEvery holiday we see refugeesā lives enriched because of the outpouring of love from our local churches in North Florida. Without them, we couldnāt do what we do.ā
So who are you inviting to the table this week? Join us and churches around the country as we welcome the stranger to our table and have them leave as friends. For more information on how to do this, contact your local World Relief office by visiting https://worldrelief.org/us-offices.
Empowering Refugee Families in Washington
Sameer Qadoora has been a refugee since birth. As a child, his family fled violent conflict in present-day Israel and became citizens of Iraq. It was in Baghdad that he eventually met his wife, Hanan. In 2006, Sameer and Hanan were forced to flee when militants pursued Sameer for unknown reasons. With two children already, Hanan was eight months pregnant.
The Qadoora family sought refuge in Jordan but were denied access by guards. The family hid in a mosque near the border until the Red Cross intervened and allowed Hanan, whose due date was fast approaching, to enter Jordan. Hanan gave birth to a healthy baby boy but remained separated from her family for several months. Their only option was to be transferred to a refugee camp just inside the Iraq-Syria border. The family spent six years in this dangerous, ill-equipped cluster of tents located in the middle of a harsh desert. Their life in the camp was one marked by continuous waiting.
In August 2012, the waiting was over. The Qadooras packed up what little they had and boarded a UN charter bus that would take them to the airport and then the United States. World Relief had the privilege of resettling the Qadoora family in Kent, Washington; however, a local Church played a vital role in the process. Church volunteers welcome refugees the minute they arrive at the airport and provide volunteer services and resources necessary for refugees to establish self-sufficiency in their new home. They share the Gospel with vulnerable refugees through word and deed.
Now, the boys are in school. Hanan meets weekly with a volunteer, Anna, who helps her practice English. Sameer works part time at a local printing press and is currently working with the World Relief employment team to find a full-time job. When asked what they think of their new home, Hanan said, āWhen I came here, it changed my life. Iām so happy here, so happy to see your faces.ā
Story taken from World Relief Seattle
Hope for Syrian Refugees | Refugee Crisis
According to the UNHCR, the Syrian Refugee Crisis is now one of the largest exoduses in human history, and it is only projected to escalate. As of September 2013, the UNHCR reports that the countryās unabated conflict has displaced over 2.2 million refugees. By the end of 2013, half of the Syrian population, including 3.45 million refugees and 6.8 million internally displaced people, will need humanitarian assistance.
Women and children comprise three-quarters of the refugee population and they are a particularly vulnerable group with unique needs. Women and girls have limited access to social protection and services and are at risk for various prevalent forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). UNICEF reports that children make up 46 percent of the refugee population. Many are unaccompanied and in need of services that will reconcile them with family members. The conflict is also robbing children of education. One pastor (45) at a Baptist Church, asks for prayer for the youth in the MiddleEast. He says, āOver 60 percent of the population is 25 years and younger, and itās not clear what the job opportunities will be for them.ā
Refugees need health care to treat disease, infections, parasites and viruses that are prevalent in crowded refugee camps with poor sanitation. Refugees fleeing violence in Syria also need protection as they enter host countries and throughout their stay so that trauma and humiliation does not lead to violence, despair and conflict. Refugees need livelihood opportunities so that they do not resort to negative coping mechanisms like child labor, survival sex and child marriage to make up for a lack of earnings. They need adequate and dignified living arrangements, especially as the winter threatens those living in informal, makeshift shelters.
Current international aid for Syrian refugees is vastly insufficient compared to the need that exists. It is the largest appeal for humanitarian aid in history. World Relief knows that short-term, material provision will not in and of itself restore the brokenness that exists. The needs of Syrian Refugees are physical, psychological, relational, spiritual and long-lasting, and they must be addressed as such.
Based on a recent assessment and through coordination with partners already working on the ground, we have entered into the process of discovering our role in responding to this complex disaster. We aim to empower local and US churches to take action as we assess and address through word and deed the integral needs of Syrian refugees. We acknowledge that as followers of Christ, we share much in common with foreigners who live as aliens in a place they do not belong. According to Matthew 2:13-15, Jesus Himself was a refugee whose family sought political asylum in Egypt to avoid the infanticide ordered by King Herod. We believe in the promise of John 10:10, that Jesus has come to bring life to the full, which is manifested in peace, restoration and wholeness that is physical, spiritual and relational.
Programs would include training for Christian counselors from local Church communities to provide trauma counseling for victims of the Syrian War; support for children and youth that have been separated from their families during the crisis and are in danger of being trafficked; and partnership with local organizations and churches to provide non-food items like hygiene kits, cooking utensils, bedding/blankets, etc. to displaced Syrian refugees and their host families. The need is urgent and we believe the Church is the best hope for lasting transformation.
Learn more about our christian response and how you can pray for Syrian refugees.
Donate to disaster response for Syrian refugees
Learn how you can give the gift of restoration to the devastated this Christmas.
The Gift of Hearing Brings New Life to a Bhutanese Refugee Couple
Any refugee entering the United States faces significant obstacles. But for Nar and Dhan Maya Ghorsai, a Bhutanese couple resettled in Aurora, silence proved to be the greatest: deaf for most of their lives, Nar and Dhan were unable to learn English, form deep relationships or pursue success in their new community. However, on June 15, 2012, their silence was broken with the gift of hearing aids. Nar and Dhan were able to speak, listen and interact with a world that had been ādullā for years prior, the couple says.
World Relief Medical Case Specialist Esther Myahla explains that deafness is a common phenomenon among the Bhutanese community. Many enter the United States with limited hearing ability, but few doctors have been able to distinguish the root cause. Of Nar, Myahla explains, āHe woke up one day as a child and could no longer hear.ā For years, the couple was without answers and opportunities, and like many Bhutanese, simply accepted their hearing loss and the resulting limitations.
This all changed when the family was introduced to World Relief. Through the Intensive Medical Case Management program the Ghorsai family was connected with Esther, who acted as their spokesperson, advocate and companion. The Ghorsais were given the opportunity to visit a hearing specialist who outfitted them with custom hearing aids. Since then, the family has expressed how āvery happyā and excited they are to be able to hear clearly all of the sounds that they had lost.
Without the ability to hear or speak, the Ghorsais often found themselves sitting idly at home without much drive or hope. Now, they are eager to build relationships, visiting neighbors and relatives regularly. Both Nar and Dhan anticipate returning to World Reliefās English as a Second Language (ESL) classes so they can finally learn the English language, a task previously impossible as they both struggled to read lips. Nar explains, āThe ear computers have given me a new life. It is like I am born again.ā
Their son, Dal Ghorsai, beams with joy when describing the familyās newfound freedom. Dal says with a smile on his face: āI feel so glad that I could not express it. Since they were children, they were deaf and handicapped. But, now they can do everything. Now, they can have normal lives. I want to give thanks to World Relief and specifically to Esther because she suffered a lot for them.ā
When their newfound ability to hear and speak, the Ghorsais have no doubt that they will more easily be able to communicate with the outside world, and experience an easier assimilation into American culture. Their past was marked by limited comprehension, relationships, and potential for success; the future however, is filled with hopeful ambition.
World Relief in Fort Worth: A Refugeeās Final Destination
When refugees enter the United States, they are still a long way from their āfinaldestination.ā Arrival marks the beginning of physical, social, financial, relational and spiritual challenges that threaten this vulnerable populationās ability to be self-sufficient in an unfamiliar culture. World Relief in Fort Worth is empowering the local Church to meet the holistic needs of this group by resettling and meeting the holistic needs of several hundred refugees a year.
There are currently 15 to 16 million refugees in the world. Less than half of one percent of these refugees is offered stable resettlement in a developed nation, but the United States resettles the largest portion of these refugees. Most are given legal residency status and permission to work upon their arrival. They come seeking security, hope and community, but are less likely to experience social connection, more likely to have physical and mental conditions and are entering a country with few economic opportunities. Too often, refugees entering the United States are resettled into spiritual and physical poverty.
World Relief in Fort Worth is seeking to change that. From the moment refugees arrive at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, they are met with the relational, physical and spiritual love of Jesus Christ. The World Relief staff provides refugees with housing, medical services, cash assistance, ESL, case management, employment assistance and volunteer involvement. Additionally, by partnering with local churches and volunteers, World Relief Fort Worth connects refugees to the greater body of Christ. Often traveling from war-torn, oppressive communities, a refugeeās need for employment, housing and food cannot be separated from his or her need for peace, community and security.
Jason, whose name has been changed for this story, is one such refugee. He grew up in Iran where he and his family practiced Islam faithfully. When he entered university and studied Islamic law in his late teens, Jason found himself drifting from particular aspects of the religion that disturbed him; meanwhile, his interest in Christianity grew. Jason worked in Iran as a human rights attorney and professor before leaving his country and spending two years as a refugee in Turkey. Because he had no family or relations at this point, the UNHCR decided to resettle him in the United States and in August 2012, World Relief Fort Worth welcomed Jason at the airport.
World Relief found him housing in an apartment and employment with AT&T upon his
arrival. He feared his Iranian heritage would create tension with Americans, but he adjusted through the friendship of a World Relief volunteer who Jason now says is ālike my brother.ā Later, World Relief Fort Worth offered Jason a job as a Case Manager. He says his work with refugees at World Relief is much like what he did in Iran. His experience navigating through their challenges has provided him a special understanding of refugee clients. A.C. Musopole writes, āIt is a transformed person who transforms his or her environment,ā a compelling truth that is evident in Jasonās life.
The same volunteer whom Jason describes as āfamilyā invited the recent refugee to attend Gateway Church at Southlake. There, Jason made the decision to follow Jesus Christ and asked his friend to help him become baptized. During this interview, Jasonās joy was evident as he talked about the peace he has found in Christianity and how he knows that Jesus Christ is his āfinal destination.ā
“Mama Claudia”
For over 6 years, Claudia has been volunteering with World Relief in the Tri-Cities area in Washington. She mentors refugees from Burma, Columbia and Somalia. Many of the younger refugees who have lost their own mothers or may never see them again know call her āMama Claudia.āHere, Claudia shares why she has chosen to stand with refugees:
āI had been praying about a way to volunteer that would be meaningful. One night, at a church meeting, a World Relief staff person stood up to speak about refugees. As soon as she stood up, I knew thatās what I was supposed to do. I didnāt really have many cross-cultural experiences to draw from, other than a time in the 1970ās when I was part of a church that helped host a Vietnamese family or when I worked with a literacy project in California. But Iāve always been one to look out for the less-fortunate. Even in high school, I remember that I always seemed to have more than my friends did and I wanted to give to them.
Many refugees have gone through so much tragedy and have suffered a lot of trauma just to get here. When they tell you the story of how their government stole their land and killed their family or when they tell you how they used to live, cooking, cleaning and sleeping all in a shack that is the size of my dining room, it reminds me again how fortunate I am. I am blessed with more than I need.
Iāve learned a lot from the refugees, about myself and about how our cultures are so different. One time recently, I was upset at a landlord about a situation in a young Burmese coupleās apartment, and I wanted to march over to that office and get it resolved. My Burmese friend, who is much more gentle and kind than I, stopped me and said, āno, Iāll take care of it. Itās ok. I can do it.ā
Once I mentioned to my Somali friends that I had a headache, and after that, each Somali kept taking turns checking on me to see if I was ok. Iām accepted by them, and they appreciate me and the help I can give them. They often confide in me about problems or questions they have about American culture. Iāve had many very personal conversations with them, and they sometimes seem much more open than we are in our culture.
Itās so funny to go out in public and have these Somali people call me their mama. When I help them with appointments, the receptionist will ask what my relationship is to the group of Somalis standing there with me. We stop, look at each other, and just smile. I usually end up saying, āwell, Iām their American mother.ā No one really asks questions after that.ā