In recent years, NSC has resettled hundreds of refugees from Iraq, Burma, Liberia and many other countries. We are now excited to announce that we resettled our first refugees from Darfur in early March 2009. NSC staff is eager to welcome them to the Philadelphia community.

Abdul, Samir and Nasir* are from different villages in Darfur. Yet, when asked about their past, they recount a hauntingly similar story of the conflict that has consumed their homeland - a story of violence, destruction and displacement. All three of their villages were destroyed as a result of the ethnic conflict that has ravaged Darfur, a western province of Sudan, since 2003.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. According to news reports, over 200,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been uprooted in Darfur since the conflict started in 2003.

The three young men became friends after arriving at a refugee camp in a neighboring country.  According to Abdul, the camp, home to 5-600 Darfurians, did not provide enough food or safety for those who sought refuge there. After four years in the camp, Abdul, Samir and Nasir were granted refugee status by the U.S., and began their journey to Philadelphia.

Since arriving in Philadelphia, Abdul, Samir and Nasir have been immersed in a totally new and different life. NSC's Refugee Resettlement team found them an apartment, and provided furniture, clothing and cash assistance for food as they begin to rebuild their lives.

Mohammed Makia, NSC's case manager, met them at the airport. After showing them their new home, Mohammed treated them to pizza at an Egyptian Halal pizzeria in their new neighborhood   Now NSC staff is helping them learn the basic skills necessary to live in Philadelphia, skills many of us take for granted - how to take public transportation, purchase groceries, access health care, and speak English. The adjustments have been a challenge, especially after spending more than four years in a refugee camp, but they are rapidly learning and adjusting to U.S. culture.

When asked if they had contact with their families or others of their village, Abdul replies, "We were desperate to save our souls."  They had little time to obtain information about others as they fled, so they are unaware of what happened to their families. They are not sure whether they survived and managed to reach a refugee camp or whether they perished amidst the violence.

To each other, they are the only family they have left.  Yet, who would have thought that they would meet a fellow Darfurian their first night in Philadelphia? After picking the trio up from the airport, Mohammed took them to a local corner store, Al Raian Food Market. It turns out that the owner is from Darfur and has been living in the U.S. for several years.  They also met Darwood, another Darfurian immigrant, a short time after arriving in Philadelphia. Darwood visits Abdul, Samir and Nasir almost daily.

While the transition hasn't been easy, Abdul, Samir and Nasir are extremely hopeful about what lies ahead. Abdul wishes to continue his education and become an engineer, while Samir wants to become a nurse. Nasir hopes to start a family, establish a business, and live safely in his new home. 

Abdul, Samir and Nasir are currently attending Job Club, an employment orientation and preparation program at NSC. Securing stable employment is a central component to achieving self-sufficiency.  NSC's employment counselors are working with members of the local business community to locate employment opportunities not only for Abdul, Samir and Nasir, but for many individuals NSC resettles every year. While they have cultivated strong relationships throughout the region, the current economic conditions are making their task increasingly difficult.

NSC asks that community and civic organizations, business owners and individuals who are able to assist in locating employment opportunities for Abdul, Samir and Nasir and other NSC clients to contact Betsy O'Neil at boneil@nscphila.org or 215.893.8400.

*Names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Like many activities at NSC, our Senior Center is a place of cultural understanding and celebration.  In addition to daily T'ai Chi (taught by one of our clients), ESL classes, yoga, games and outings, Center members and NSC staff frequently celebrate the diversity of their cultures by recognizing ethnic holidays.  These celebrations provide seniors with opportunities to share parts of their culture through food, song, poems, and stories.

Every year the seniors at NSC's Senior Center plan Chinese New Year activities. This year was no different. On January 26, 2009, Senior Center members, family and friends prepared traditional Chinese and Vietnamese foods and music, honoring the current year of the Ox.  Both Chinese and Vietnamese New Years tends to fall on the same date and share many similar customs. Therefore, the Center celebrated both cultures together.

This year's Chinese New Year celebration provided another opportunity for seniors to share in each others' cultures and deepen the friendships they have established while coming to the Center.  As language barriers often limit the depth of interaction among seniors from different ethnic backgrounds at the Center, communicating through food and music provides an alternative means for interacting with one another.    

In addition to the generous spread of long noodles, egg rolls, tangerine preserved watermelon seeds, cookies and tea, seniors enjoyed traditional Chinese songs performed by Lih Yun Chang, a local yangqin performer.  A yanggin is a Chinese hammered dulcimer with a near-squared soundboard (pictured at right).

Although the musician was a wonderful addition to the celebration, Center members remained the focal point of the festivities.  Seniors read poems, sang traditional Chinese and Vietnamese songs, and gave speeches that wished one another good luck and health in the New Year.
    
NSC's seniors are all over the age of 60, and our oldest member is turning 100 years old this summer. Their immigrant past is even broader than their ages. While some immigrated to the United States 25 years ago, others have been here for less than a year.

NSC's Senior Center is a day program in the Logan section of Philadelphia that serves seniors from many different cultures, native born as well as immigrants.  In particular, it serves many elderly Asians, who would otherwise be isolated from opportunities to socialize and participate in activities.

If you know a senior who would enjoy participating in these activities or if you wish to share your time and talent at our Senior Center, please contact our Center Director, Tara Swartzendruber-Landis at tarasl@nscphila.org.

2009 Citizenship Day at NSC

We hope that you have found the first edition of NSC's Voice enjoyable and informative. Please take the time to forward this newsletter to your family, friends and colleagues.  You are an integral part of our outreach efforts.

We also invite you to take an active role in our mission by donating to NSC. Your generous donation can make a significant impact in the lives of the individuals and families we serve. Your financial gift recognizes the special needs of newcomers by welcoming them and helping them to overcome obstacles to rebuilding their lives, connecting them to their new homes and facilitating access to resources, and empowering them to become self-sufficient and contributing members of the Greater Philadelphia community.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss your contribution to NSC, please contact Kathrin P. Ivanovic in our Development Department.