New American Services staff in Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck provided the safety of clean and affordable homes and a smooth transition to school, health care and employment to 470 refugees from sixteen countries during 2010. The countries of origin include: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eretria, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine.  This year and every year, New American Services helped to provide a place where persecuted people from around the world found warm welcomes and common ground.

New American Services staff, service providers, volunteers, contributors and community members worked with refugees to foster rapid self-reliance so they could become contributing members of the community.  Through working together, lives were changed.  A new awareness and sensitivity to the struggles of new Americans was realized. The resiliency of a refugee was an inspiration for those directly involved in a new American's life.

Working with new Americans is mutually beneficial for all involved, the blessing goes both ways and strength is found in a shared mission.

Afghanistan - 1                Iraq - 105

Bhutan -216                     Lebanon - 2

Burma- 8                         Liberia - 4

Burundi - 5                      Rwanda - 9

Ethiopia - 15                    Sierra Leone - 3

Eretria - 2                        Somalia - 42

Congo - 37                       Sudan - 16

Iran - 2                             Ukraine - 3

Fargo - 312 individuals

West Fargo - 44 individuals

Bismarck - 19 individuals

Moorhead - 2 individuals

New Americans, new Walmart

Driving south on Interstate 29 through Fargo, a new Walmart will come into view right where the city stops and the prairie begins. If you go inside, you may meet two recent employees of the month: Pema Tamang and Prem Siwakoti, new Americans from Bhutan.

This past May, Prem won his "3^rd Shift Associate of the Month" award, working as an overnight grocery stocker; Pema followed in June, winning the same award, but for his position as a cashier. Both Pema and Prem liked the idea of receiving the "Associate of the Month" award. "We used to discuss the award," said Pema, "it was our goal."

Both employees began working full time in November 2009, one month after the store opened. "It took about two months for me to learn the cashier position and customer service," said Pema. "But my supervisor was a good teacher.

"We had to learn from scratch," added Prem, "because Walmart is a big store, with lots of merchandise and positions."

When asked if they were surprised when they won their awards, Pema said, "I was happy - not surprised. Not many people here work like us. We thought we deserved the awards because we're working very hard. We just worked ... and [our supervisors] came to know it and be proud of it."

Since starting last November, Pema and Prem each obtained their North Dakota driver's license and bought cars. Prem has another part-time position as a paraprofessional at a local middle school.

"The next step for me is to hopefully work days, or as a full-time para," said Prem. "It is hard for a family man to work nights."

When asked about his future, Pema stated, "I am just focused on becoming perfect at my present position."

Pema and Prem are upbeat individuals who excel at their jobs because of their dedication to great customer service. They are motivated, inquisitive and funny.

"Can we get copies of this article to show our wives," Prem asked, "so they believe we won Associate of the Month?" When asked if they showed their plaques to their wives as proof, Pema joked, "They thought we made it up."

 

Viola Trokhymenko

One's road to self-sufficiency usually requires some help from friends and family along the way. Viola Trokhymenko, a refugee from Ukraine, began her  new journey in Carson, ND, where she was reunited with her sister, Oleana Picknally. Viola lived in Carson for a few months before she began applying for jobs as a Nurse's Assistant. A move to Bismarck on Feb. 14, 2010, led to a job interview at the end of March. She accepted the position as a Nurse's Assistant at St. Alexious hospital in Bismarck. Viola works full-time in the Medical and Oncology Units.  Another reunion, this time with her parents, took place in May 2010.

When Viola is not at work or busy helping her parents get settled, she enjoys spending time at the Bismarck Library and city parks.  When asked about her new home, she shared that she thinks Bismarck is a very beautiful city. She likes that it's not extremely busy, that many people have a positive attitude and that they enjoy helping each other out. In the future, Viola would like to become licensed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) so she can continue working in the medical field.