In a larger context: Washington’s Refugees

   It’s interesting to consider the number of refugees that have come to Spokane, but those numbers have far more meaning when considered in the larger context of Washington State. Below are the origins of the 2247 refugees that resettled in Washington State in 2008:

   All of these refugees are part of our life now, and it is our responsibility to know that in welcoming refugees to Spokane we support the refugee community across the state of Washington. Next time, we’ll look at the state of Washington in a larger context yet: nationally!

J.R.

This information from the US Dept. of State’s Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS)

Mobile Phones and Humanitarian Work

   We all know that mobile phones are wonderfully convenient. They help us organize meetups with all sorts of people, get in touch with friends far away, and keep tabs on ourselves with the use of built-in GPS, text messages, alarms, and calendars. However, I do not imagine that you knew about all the different ways that mobile phones are revolutionizing humanitarian work.

   For example, the UN has just started using mobile phones to distribute food vouchers to refugees—refugees receive a text message on their mobile phone that shows them the balance available on their food-aid account and provides them with a code number to access that money. They can then use this balance at local stores to pay for food, improving their access to food, supporting local economies, and improving the quality and specificity of food they can obtain. No longer will refugees in these camps need to collect two months worth of food ahead of time. You can look at the article yourself: U.N. touts food vouchers sent by text.

   Or, this article discusses how new applications have been created to allow people to accomplish micro-volunteering tasks. These applications both provide people with a way to volunteer their time in their spare moments, and others help refugees find employment and employment training.

   There are some very cool things happening in the world right now, and this is a great time to be a part of it.

J.R.

A Brief History of the Bhutanese Refugees

 There are about 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal.  Many of these people are beginning to come to the United States and to Spokane.  The issues surrounding this population are complex, and this video produced by the United Nations comes as close as anything I’ve seen to explaining them.  Please watch…

Ambassador to Iraq: Lecture and Panel

   It turns out that the former US Ambassador to the Middle East is from the Spokane area. Ex-ambassador Ryan Crocker will present a lecture on Wednesday 21 Oct, on the Whitworth campus. Taking place at 7pm at Whitworth’s Weyerhaeuser Hall (in the Robinson Teaching Theatre), he will speak on the intricacies of foreign policy decisions regarding that region… and how those decisions affect US foreign policy worldwide.

   The next evening, a panel discussion on US foreign policy opportunities and challenges in the Middle East will take place at the same place and time—we encourage you to attend at least one of these events, if possible. Global Neighborhood staff and volunteers will strive to be present as well.

  J.R.

This information was garnered from Whitworth University News.

75% of Iraqi refugees resettled in US

   This came as a huge surprise to me: there have been 82,500 Iraqi refugees approved for resettlement (although only 33,000 have actually been resettled so far), and, of those 82,500, 75% have been approved to come to the United States! The 14 other countries accepting Iraqi refugees are splitting the remaining 25% among themselves.

   However, this is nothing compared to the 4.7 million refugees and IDP (Internally Displaced People) that have not been approved for resettlement. These people remain in Syria, Jordan, and Iraq itself, but their fate remains uncertain.

   35 Iraqi refugees came to Spokane last year, and as many or more have come this year. As citizens of Spokane, your responsibility is clear. Demonstrate to the world that the United States deserves the honor it has been given in providing a new home for our Iraqi brothers and sisters by welcoming them into your community. Volunteer with Global Neighborhood today!

J.R.

The information in this post came from the UNHCR via Reuters.

Doing what we can

   I was just reminded of a conversation I had a few months ago, with some Americorps workers. They were very excited to see people stepping up to change the world and creating their own opportunities to do so. What reminded me was this article about a former refugee recycling used hotel soap to send to Uganda. This man noticed that hotels get rid of lots of soap, and reflected that soap is very rare in his home country. In fact, about 15% of diseases in Uganda could be prevented with easily available soap.

   This story is wonderful inspiration, because we can all help in some way or another. And, the shameless self-promotion: we’re excited to help you be the change that you’d like to see in the world. Send us an email, and we’ll see what we can do together.

J.R.

Nepali Party!

What are you doing this coming Saturday? I know what I’m doing—I’m going to be at the downtown community center at about 10am, hanging out with Nepalis.

That’s right, Spokane’s Nepali community is putting on an event at the Midcity Senior Center (1222 W. 2nd Ave). What’s going on? Well, kids will be dancing and performing in various ways relating to Nepali culture. It’ll be swinging—there will be music and there will be food. So, show up at the Midcity Senior Center this next Saturday morning for some good times.

J.R.

Raging Forest

 In 2008 alone, 184 Burmese refugees were resettled in Spokane.   More are coming each month.  These wonderful people come from a place few Americans know about and a conflict that rarely graces even the back pages of the newspaper.  Please, watch this video.

 Thanks to the Free Burma Rangers for their work and to friend Dominik Baer for writing this song…

Tip #1

Spend some time looking up the following information online, in the news, in the library on the country of origin of your family:

Would you pass the US Citizenship test?

   At our offices, we have a little stack of literature sitting on our coffee table. This literature details the breadth—although perhaps not the depth—of knowledge needed to pass the US Citizenship test. On occasion—between my various tasks—I like to glance at the literature. Each time, I am astonished by how little of it I actually know, even as a fairly studious college-educated citizen. (Although I know a little more each time.) Also, on reflection, I realize that even taking the Citizenship test would not actually reflect the experience of most refugees.

   To better reflect that experience, I would probably have to take the test in French or Vietnamese—languages that I have a small degree of proficiency in, but barely enough to communicate in even with the addition of considerable gesturing.

   Yet the US Citizenship is yet another challenge facing refugees. I encourage you to try answering some of its questions… and see for yourself.

J.R.