Dear Friend of RT,
World Refugee Day is June 20th, and we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the struggles that refugees throughout the world endure on a daily basis, as well as the successes that so many of these brave individuals have achieved. Refugee Transitions' clients are no exception to this experience, and we commend them for their hard work, tenacity, and positive spirit.
Just recently, RT student Richard Bakhei graduated from high school and was accepted at St. Mary's College. It was not too long ago that Richard was living as a refugee in Uganda with his family, having fled the ongoing conflict in Sudan. It is stories like Richard's that remind us of the tremendous will that enables our clients to succeed and become self-sufficient in the United States.
And of course we would not be able to serve these individuals and their families without the generous support of people like you. Thus, we'd also like to take this occasion to thank all of our supporters and to honor the partnerships that have grown over the years between Refugee Transitions and socially-conscious individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses in the Bay Area. Thank you!
For more information on World Refugee Day, please visit the UNHCR's website here. |
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Recent Funding News
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Why Volunteers Matter: Tutor Valerie Gold Shares her Story about Volunteering with RT
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I
am excited to share my experiences about mentoring & teaching ESL
to my single mom and her 4 year old daughter, who arrived in the US as
political asylees only last March.
In the past I visited
several countries with my brother who runs his own international
humanitarian organization (100 Friends), dispersing funds to the direst
in need. However, since I don't have the time or money to travel the
world with him, I wanted to regain "that wonderful feeling"-you know,
the feeling you get when being the giver totally out-weighs what those
on the receiving end are feeling. So I researched what was available in
the states. I work in the social services field, but I didn't want "a
client." I wanted to really connect, to become close to a family and
an extended community.
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RT Welcomes Americorps Vista Member:
Julia Otis
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Julia
Otis joins Refugee Transitions' staff as our new
Americorps Vista Capacity Builder. Julia will work with the RT team to help expand
services for Bay Area refugee and immigrant communities, enhance our
website to incorporate new content and design features, oversee our
transition to an
improved database system, and strengthen volunteer support.
We are thrilled to have Julia join our team for the next year. For more information and Julia's contact information, click here.
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Information on Iraqi Refugees Resettled
to the United States
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Refugees from Iraq: Their History, Cultures, and Background Experiences, published by the Cultural Orientation Resource Center, provides basic
information about Iraqi refugees being resettled in the United States. It also analyzes the strengths and challenges of the resettlement process and provides valuable information about Iraqi refugees in asylum countries.
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The
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that
more than four million Iraqis have been displaced by the war in Iraq
and its aftermath. Of these, about two million people have found asylum
in neighboring countries, where many eke out a marginal living in poor,
inner-city neighborhoods, often by working illegally for low wages as
laborers, drivers, and restaurant workers.
Most Iraqi asylees
are living in Syria and Jordan, but Iraqis have also sought asylum in
Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey. Because most Iraqis are unable to
return to Iraq safely or to settle permanently in the countries to
which they have fled, Western nations, including the United States,
have begun to resettle those refugees who are considered by the UNHCR
to be at greatest risk. .
To read the full publication, please click here.
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Save the Date: June 19 World Refugee Day Picnic
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Please Join us in celebrating World Refugee Day!Each
year, the regional
Refugee Fora hold community celebrations to honor and celebrate
refugee families in the Bay Area. These events correspond with the annual
World Refugee Day on June 20th. For more information about World
Refugee Day and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, please click here. East Bay World Refugee Day Picnic
Friday June 19th, 2009 11:30-3:00
San Antonio Park
(corner of 16th Avenue and Foothill Blvd)
For more information about the event, please click here.
South Bay World Refugee Day Celebration
South Bay Refugee/ Immigrant Forum
Friday, June 26th, 4-8pm
Campbell Community Center
We urge you to come and bring friends, family,
students, and colleagues!
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Refugee Transitions Offers Supplementary Trainings to Volunteers
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In order to better support both our our volunteers and clients, RT is offering several supplementary trainings in the coming months that highlight specific issues relevant to refugee and immigrant families. For more information on these trainings, please visit our calendar page here.
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Monday, June 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm
RT Oakland Office: 1212 Broadway St, Suite 702
At this event, professionals from Asian Community Mental Health Services will
provide in-depth training for RT volunteers on the signs and symptoms of
trauma.
 Parent Involvement in Education Training
Wednesday, July 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Thursday, August 20th, 6:00-8:00 pm
RT Oakland Office: 1212 Broadway St, Suite 702
This training will enable RT
tutors to
help parents of school-aged youth navigate the education system in
the U.S.
Computer Literacy Training
Wed., September 2nd, 6:00-8:00pm
Location TBD
This training will cover how to teach the basics of
computers to English Language Learners.
Stay tuned for more supplementary trainings in the future!
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Bhutanese Refugees from Nepal
come to the Bay Area
After years
of exile in camps in Nepal, Bhutanese refugees
with ties to Nepali
culture and heritage are being resettled in
large numbers all over the U.S.
Refugee
populations are often resettled to the U.S. in large groups. One of
the newest groups coming specifically to the Bay Area is Bhutanese refugees. After years of living in refugee
camps in Nepal and being unable to return to Bhutan, they have finally been granted resettlement to restart their lives in the U.S.
RT
has been working with Bhutanese students at Oakland International High
School, and has matched a number of families with home-based tutors
in the South Bay and in Oakland.
To learn more about the Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal, please see the
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Stay Connected with RT!
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Please click on the Update Profile/E-mail Address link found at the bottom of this page to confirm your contact information with RT. This helps us keep you informed about Refugee Transitions news and events!
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Get Involved
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Become involved with Refugee Transitions and help support the refugee and immigrant communities in the Bay Area!
We hold monthly orientations for individuals who are intererested in volunteering, helping with financial support, or learning more about our mission and programming.
If you'd like to attend an orientation, please contact Lauren at 415-989-2151 or visit our website at www.reftrans.org. |
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