Refugee Outreach

My service experience this semester was amazing because I learned many things about my family and their struggles. I formed connection with the kids that I thought was nearly impossible in the beginning of the year because we come from two different worlds. I was able to help the kids in their homework, which consisted of math, science, social studies, reading and writing. I also was able to help the father in his process of learning English, which reminded me of the time I would help my dad learn English. The second to last week I helped the mom make a resume just in case she wanted to apply for a job in the near future. My action impacted the family because they all have learned something new and I helped them overcome some challenges they faced.

I can improve my actions for my future services by providing more time into the family because I was very busy with other activities and I know if I had more time I would have been able to more things with them. My plan to create social justice projects is to continue to get involved with the Loyola Refugee Outreach Program and get more students involved because this is a program that is worth the time because not only do you form connections with families, but you change their lives and they change your lives in so many different ways. Another way that I can get involved in social justice projects is creating activities for refugee awareness in high schools and churches because that is were the most active volunteers are.

I was fortune enough to get paired with a family from Nepal that consisted of the mother, father, daughter and grandmother. My partner, Teresa, and I had three mentors who were already involved and familiar with the family, which was a huge help because they made us feel comfortable in a new environment. The family was very friendly, when we visited; they welcomed us with the traditional greeting of the Nepal cultural. What I saw from this family was that they were very much comfortable being in the United States and they kept a united front. Even though the family consisted of four members, they had relatives living in the same building so they spent all day together.  The kids interacted with the adults in their native language, but to us they spoke fluent English. A typical visit consisted of us helping the kids-the daughter and her cousins- with their homework, play games with them and enjoy the stories and youtube videos they shared.  When it was getting closer to leave the mother would feed us noodles with soup even though we were not hungry. In the beginning of the visits we would go with our mentors, but as we got comfortable with the family we started going alone.  Going alone helped us form stronger relationship with the kids and the mother and father. When we went to visit, the mother was doing my roommates braid and we were conversing with each other about our families and it formed a sense of bond because she opened up to us and we opened up to her.

This experience was very special and meant a great deal to me because my father came illegally to the united states and received little to no help from people so by me having the opportunity to help a family who faced a similar situation was very touching and rewarding.  This experience showed me that it is important to step out of my comfort zone because it will lead me to great and wonderful things. For example, working with a family who is from Nepal a place that I was unaware before I met them. If someone would have told me that I would be working with a family that was not Mexican and barely spoke the languages I spoke I would be hesitant and reluctant to go, but now through this experience I learned that stepping out of my comfort zone would help broaden my view of refugee’s struggles.  This experience taught me that the community in which I serve has consent struggles and they need consistent help because if they get helped for a few months and stop receiving aid they will not know what to do resulting in their misfortunes. The community of Rogers Park can also be more effective in helping refugees by spreading the word in churches and community centers that refugees need assistance in whatever shape or form that is available. This illuminates the issues that were discussed in class, refugees are not receiving proper and sufficient aid, and some refugees are left in little apartments and have a family of five or more. Also, this highlights the issues that refugees are being left to fend for them in a whole new world that they are not accustomed to.

I am challenged to observe more acutely because I have seen first hand the injustices refugees face and I never thought they were treated this badly so I need to observe closely the agencies and call for justice.  I new questions such as, how can agencies just stop helping families knowing that they have nothing? Are their actions justifiable, do they need to fix their law to create more effective resettlement among refugees? Regarding the issues of refugees many things need to get done, first many people need to get aware of what are refugees and the struggles they face and then they need to establish more programs to effectively help the refugee long term not just for a couple of months.

This semester, I was involved with a different type of service than I had experienced before. I was a different experience but a great one. I was working with a refugee family that lived in Rogers Park. I worked with a family of four and also other children that were related to the family. I helped the children with their homework and assisted the father with his ESL worksheets. Besides that, I was building a friendly relationship with the family. I think my service made a difference because I provided assistance they would have not have had.  Along with the befriending of the family, I volunteered at the fundraiser my class set up. With that fundraiser, we made the Loyola community aware of the refugees in refugee camps and their situations.

I could improve my actions by spending more time with the family I have befriended. On a regular week, I would do two hours and a half of service and I think I could do more service throughout the week. I could also engage the families with more activities. I think I could improve the service by establishing deeper connections with the adults in the future. I plan on joining Loyola Refugee Outreach with my current partner and befriend another family. With the experience I gained through my first family service, I could do better and know how to handle situations better. Another way I will continue to be involved in social justice projects is by continuing to do service with those less fortunate, like at the soup kitchen here a Loyola. With the knowledge I have gained I can spread the word and aware others of the injustices going on.

I was paired with a family from Nepal. They were a family of four, two parents, the grandmother, and their daughter. When we visited, we would also interact with other kids, which were cousins. In total, we spend time with five kids. We helped them with homework or just played games with them. We would also help the father review worksheets from his English classes. The family was a normal family environment, the adults talking and the kids playing. The family for the most part, spoke their native language around the house and the kids did too but to us they spoke English. I felt very out of place when I would be at their home the first couple of times because they spoke in their language so I did not know what they were saying or what was going on. At first we would go visit the family with our mentors, we had three, and they definitely help us with getting confortable with the family. I was nervous at when I was first going to meet the family. I did not know what to expect. I would put the worst-case scenarios in my head before I met them. Fortunately, our family was great. They were nice and welcoming all the time. They would bring us tea, snacks, and before we left the mother always fed us even if it was at 9:30 at night. The parents were great and the kids were so funny. I loved interacting with the kids and getting to know them. They liked playing simple games like “rocks”, hangman, and of course Temple Run on the iPhone. I truly valued the time spent with the family.

This experience means a lot to me because taught me so many things and I was able to grow as a person. It also means a lot to me because my father and grandparents were in a similar situation as refugees. They were not considered refugees but they endured some of the same struggles. I was raised to always help those in need because my family was once in the position and it is the right thing to do. I am a strong believer in community service but this was a different type of service. I learned about the refugee community and their background. I never knew what a refugee was besides the general definition. There is much more to learn about the community than just what they’re labeled as. They have had a difficult time throughout their lives. I learned the overall issues with the application process in the United States to be admitted as a refugee. A present issue is that people in the community do know about these refugees; therefore, not a lot of help is provided to them. We learned in class that these families only get very minimal help and only for a limited amount of time. I learned that I could step out of my comfort zone and that being in a strange or awkward position is not necessarily a bad. It is when people are put in those strange positions that one truly grows. I learned to value and appreciate all the blessings in my life because chances are there are people that are going through struggles much worse than I am.

I am challenged to grow personally because I am now aware of the situations; I am now responsible to change the injustice. I am now responsible to do something and sometimes it is not easy to do but there should not be excuses to help those in need. I need observe the injustices going on in the world, become aware, and help those suffering from the injustices. I ask myself why people are treated so poorly? Refugees need to be offered more help and people need to  become aware of the injustices around the world.

As my freshman year in college winds down, I find myself constantly reflecting on how the year has gone by. I reminisce on the friends I’ve made, the new city I’ve discovered, and the differences I’ve made in my new community. Recalling back to the first time I met Ismaela’s family, I remember how nervous I was to meet all thirteen members of the recently arrived refugee family from the Ivory Coast. Would I understand them? Would they understand me? Are the angry or scared? What do I say? Thankfully, what initially started as a simple drop-off of clothes, turned into a semester of bonding between my family and I.
Initially meeting this family I was beyond overwhelmed. There were so many of them. When I found out they spoke French, instead of feeling more comfortable, I was now much more nervous. I had to act as the translator between a family with so many needs, and my teacher and partner. The pressure was on. Not to mention they had a thick accent I was not used to. I didn’t think they would be open to having strangers in their new one bedroom apartment, however, when we arrived all thirteen of them were smiling and shaking hands. Since that first visit, I always leave feeling happier than the last time. The kids run up to us and hold our hands while the adults eagerly hug us and point to pictures in the English book as we translate. When we play games the whole family wants to be involved. I’ve even learned a few African dance moves from the oldest brother, Ismaela. Visiting the family every week is a constant reminder to me of all the things I take for granted. This is a family of thirteen that rarely complains and shares everything with one another; blankets, plates, bathrooms, even beds. It amazes that this family has gone through so much and has so little, yet week after week they are smiling, laughing and cracking jokes.
This experience has taught me so much not only about myself, but about my new community as well. Even though this is my first time ever being in Chicago, I am constantly amazed by the diversity found in Rogers Park. Working with my family has given me opportunities to explore this neighborhood more thoroughly by walking to my family’s apartment, or taking them to their first Laundromat. I worry that our family will confuse themselves because they are an African family growing up in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood. Learning English is already hard enough, but to be surrounded by Spanish could cause more problems for them. I hope to go with them to the Pan African Association sometime soon too so I can see some of the culture centers Rogers Park has to offer and have a greater understanding of where my family comes from. I never imagined that I would meet a family all the way from Africa in the small area of Rogers Park.
This past weekend I got to enjoy some of the culture diversity Chicago has to offer by going to the “Cambodian-American Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial.” We walked in and were greeted by lots of loud music being played by traditional Cambodian instruments. The museum was small but it had quite an impact. We got to read some of the personal stories of refugees escaping Cambodia, saw torture devices, and saw beautiful glass plates engraved with just some of the known names of those who died in the death camps. I couldn’t believe that this small building in Chicago could hold so much history. Not only was it a museum, but there were ESL classes being held there, an after-school day care for children, and therapy for the older members. I had no idea that Chicago of all places would have this sanctuary for refugees as far as Cambodia.
Personally, however, working with this family has really taught me a lot of patience and given me a greater appreciation for life. Before meeting the family, refugees were just another sad statistic to me. Reading Mary Piphers novel, “The Middle of Everywhere,” made me more excited to work with the family. However, actually meeting the family and getting to work with them one-on-one was what made the issues we’ve been learning about so real. It is almost hard to fathom that such a sweet family could go through so many horrible things. Working directly with refugees makes the issue much more personal and gives me a greater incentive to speak up against the genocides occurring all over the world. The work done in this class has really challenged me to leave my comfort zone and confront the harsh reality of newly resettled refugees. As my time with the family draws to an end I cannot help but feel worried. Will they get jobs? Will they be able to pay their bills? Who will play with the kids while I am gone? I hope to continue to visit my family next semester. Even though I won’t be there for them physically this summer I hope to raise awareness for refugees. I believe the first step to helping refugees is spreading awareness and being educated not only on the areas where genocide occurs, but also on America’s stance for those people. By educating and spreading awareness we can get so many other people involved that would make our small army a larger one.

This semester I was fortunate enough to work with a refugee family of thirteen who recently arrived in Chicago all the way from the Ivory Coast. My partner, Jessica, and I would visit once a week on Sundays. During our visits, we would play with the kids, donate supplies the family needed, and try to teach them English. Not only did this work greatly impact Jessica and I, but I believe it helped serve our community as well. Working with the family impacted my Loyola community greatly because every weekend Jessica and I would come back from seeing the family and rave about how much fun we have with them. We got a lot of our friends outside of the class to get interested and some even visited the family with us. I believe our work also impacted the Rogers Park community when Jessica and I would be walking around with thirteen Africans following us. We would show them where the Laundromat and nearby grocery store are. We often got strange looks parading around town, however, many of the store clerks and pedestrians were kind in return as they watched me struggle to describe what exactly “Aspirin” was.
Although this semester is ending, I would really enjoy keeping touch with my family next year. I hope to raise awareness of the amounts of refugees there are living in the same city as us, and how we can help them. While working with the family I made myself a lot of goals, some of which were nearly impossible, so as my time at Loyola continues and I continue working towards social justice I hope to realize that I don’t need to make ridiculous goals for myself. This course has greatly inspired me to be more involved with the Loyola Refugee Outreach program, and potentially join the Invisible Children’s Club. I hope that as I continue to keep in touch with my family that they will be able to grow and flourish in this city without using me as a resource, but just seeing me as a family friend instead.

Coming from a small town in rural Tennessee to a big city filled with diversity, I knew I was in for a drastic change of environment. I did not know what to expect upon arrival in Chicago. I was out of my niche, away from what was once familiar to me. Things seemed so foreign, and I felt out of place during my first few weeks here. Eventually, I got used to the city life, finding my core group of friends and grew costumed to the fast pace of the city. My experience may have seemed frightening to me at first, but after taking this class, my journey of coming to the big city is a lot like that of a refugee. Granted, the magnitude of the horror and culture shock felt by that of a refugee is much worse than the feelings I was stuck with, but the parallel is still there nonetheless. The fear and uncertainty that a refugee must feel is something I cannot even fathom. Despite that, the refugee experience is that of great courage, perseverance, and the will to live.
From the very beginning of the semester, I was excited to work with a family of refugees, assisting them in whatever way I could. Along with my partner, Zach “The Bronco” Springer, we were assigned a family of refugees from Iraq. Upon our first visit, we were acquainted with the family, which consisted of two sons, a mother, a father, and a grandmother. The children could both speak English fluently, as well as the mother; however, the father knew little English, and the grandmother knew no English at all. At first glance, the family seemed pretty well acquainted with American culture. They had a car, a TV, a laptop, as well as other nice commodities. It was hard to even tell that they were refugees at times, since there was little they needed help with. The only thing my partner and I ever assisted them with was English. There really was nothing they needed from us. It was warming and odd to see a family that has only been here for seven months be that well adapted to American society. In fact, the overall moral of the family was extremely high, despite having come from difficult times in their home country as well as adjustment to living in the USA.
As my partner and I learned throughout our time with the family, they did indeed have great obstacles to overcome. The very reasons they even came to this country was due to the status of the youngest son’s health. He was born with a life threatening disease, which requires him to be in the vicinity of special hospitals. Due to hostility and instability in their home country of Iraq, these hospitals required for the youngest son were not available, so they moved to Egypt. While in Egypt, they lived a comfortable life, in which the youngest son had the required hospitals to life a normal life. Having a college education, the father was employed, and the kids excelled in the sciences at school. This all changed during the Arab spring, in which hostility and instability erupted throughout Northern Africa. From there, the family came to the United States as refugees. The status of the father’s occupation is still unknown to us, but as for the children, they seem to be doing well as students. I did not want to rush things with them in learning the story of their refugee experience, but they eventually opened up to my partner and I as our visit became more frequent.
The eldest son told us of their journey, and as I was hearing the stories of the path to the United States, I noticed subtle hints of tears in the eyes of the eldest son each time he was telling the stories of their struggles. This reminded me of just how human refugees are, and I am not only impressed by their determination to overcome any obstacle, but their will to find a new and better life in the United States. Like that of Valentino from What is the What?, the family felt a feeling of uncertainty, whether or not they would ever find asylum or adapt to the culture of their new country. I can relate to this feeling of uncertainty, coming from what was once potentially another country to an environment that is so much different, I can only imagine what they must have felt like leaving the culture they were familiar with.
Through this family, I realized that I was being ridiculous for feeling fears of living in the big city for the next few years. My fears were irrational, and were only enhanced by my fear of uncertainty. I have grown as a person by learning to not be afraid of the future. The sheer optimism and will to live reflected by refugees is encouraging and inspiring to me. Although it may sound cliché, there are always people less fortunate than I am, which is exemplified by the struggle of every refugee. Although I may complain about my life challenges, I really have little to complain about. Living without free of persecution is one of the greatest gifts in life. Although there may be times of uncertainty in my life, I just have to keep on moving forward with the desire for success, no matter how hard the struggle. In the words of Common “One day it will all make sense.”

Trung Nguyen

UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America

Spring 2012

This semester, along with my three friends Jeronimo Anaya, Cyryl Jakubik, and Reed Leopold and mentor, Erica Wiethorn, I worked closely with the Malonga family, a family of Congolese refugees who came to Chicago last October.  Our main activities with the Malonga family includes visiting them on a bi-weekly basis, interacting with them to help them improve their conversational English, taking them out on visits to downtown Chicago, and playing soccer with them on weekends.  Although these activities seem very shallow on the surface, I actually got to find out more about each of the five brothers, their stories from home, and their hopes for their new life here in Chicago.  I believe I have made a positive impact on their lives because I have, in my own small ways, helped them adapt more quickly to their new lives here in Chicago.  With each visit, I helped them improve bit by bit their English conversational skills as well as got them to open up more about their past experiences and what they wish to achieve.

After this three-month experience, there are three things which I would like to improve with regards to the experience that refugees get when they first come to America.  First of all, it would be beneficial to the refugee families to have student groups like my friends and I to help aid them with their English speaking skills within the first few months, or even up to a year of their stay.  Secondly, the voluntary agencies should be more helpful in the refugees’ search for jobs.  Simply giving them an apartment, simple furniture, and three months of rent alone is not enough.  One cannot really expect refugees, who do not know any English at all, to go out and find jobs that pay well enough to sustain rent, even at the level that the most run-down housing facilities have.  Lastly, it would be helpful to have all the refugees gather at a local community center to interact with local people so that they feel more welcome into the society and get accustomed more quickly to the local way of life instead of feeling estranged whenever they step out of the door to go to school or work.  All these steps will encourage voluntary agencies and students to actively found out even more ways to help refugees have a pleasant experience in their new lives here in America.

Trung Nguyen

UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America

Spring 2012

Three months have passed by very quickly since the first time I met my refugee family, the Malonga brothers and their parents from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Since that very first time, I have had the opportunity to learn more not only about themselves, their interests, and hobbies, but also about their experiences and feelings deep down about leaving home and coming to America to start anew.

With each and every visit that I pay to the Malonga brothers, the more I realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a peaceful setting and never have to deal with living under fear of one day having to move because I am unwanted within my own country.  In addition to that, not only do I live without any fear, I also received countless opportunities for education, adequate food, and so many other material things.  I still remember the first day we visited the Malonga’s apartment; they only had two mattresses, a small dining table with four chairs, and a desktop computer from the 1990s era.  The first question I asked myself, instinctively, was, “How are they surviving in such difficult conditions while they just moved a few months ago?”  It then hit me that these living conditions that I deem “difficult” were already much better than those they had to live with while in the Congo.

And to think that these difficult living conditions would soon make them give up and be pessimistic was very far from the way they actually are.  All the five brothers with whom my group-mates and I have come to know over the course of the past few months are all very motivated; they want to learn English so that they can become fluent conversationally, they want to actively go out and look for jobs, they want to one day live without the help of the voluntary agency to which they are presently assigned.  Personally, this display of mental strength and willpower means a lot and pushes to emulate them in similar ways.  Every time the thought of not wanting to do my best crosses my mind, I am reminded that there are people I know who have had it worse yet strive twice as hard as I do to achieve what they want.  It’s a powerful motivation in all aspects for me.

And while they are so motivated to achieve their goals in life, they are also quite laid back and can play a mean game of soccer.  We have played pick-up games on several occasions after our visits to their families.  My group-mates and I would sit and listen to the brothers tell their stories of how they first learned to play soccer while they were in Africa.  Again, it made me wonder how some people can be so accomplished in so many aspects of their lives.  The only things missing from their lives now are opportunities and the right people to propel them to suitable jobs that will adequately and proportionately reward them for their abilities.

Consequently, this thought leads me to think of the things that voluntary agencies who take in refugees could perhaps lend a hand.  I do understand that voluntary agencies help refugee families in the first three months with basic necessities and housing, but I do believe they can do a lot more.  I also understand that it already costs quite an amount to finance the support of these families, but would doing a bit more to help them have a head start in their job search be that detrimental to the funds?  It is not as if these refugees are looking for jobs which require high level skills; most work simple jobs that, I would say, are almost readily found, if knowing the right information.  Voluntary agencies could help refugees look for jobs in newspapers or other suitable areas.  I feel it is only necessary that this be included as a part of the deal because simply giving them support in the first 3 months and then expecting them to live on their own afterwards just does not sound very pleasant for agencies that are trying to help.

In conclusion, my three-month stint as a refugee befriender has taught me countless things, but the more important ones are to be accepting of everyone’s cultures and their experiences and specifically with the Malonga brothers, to strive as hard as they do in life.  Chicago itself is a city that accommodates thousands of refugees, so I am sure this will not be the last time that I will be in close encounter with a refugee family.  The subsequent times, I will be prepared and more knowledgeable, thanks to this service-learning opportunity.

Karin Bucio
May 4th, 2012
Univ 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience In America
Spring 2012

Aside from visiting our refugee family, our class participated in a fundraiser for our sister school in Africa a couple weeks ago. That was a very nice experience because we got the opportunity to educate others about what was going on in the other half of the world. Many people asked us what our fundraising was for, and one time we even got one of the members in LRO to help us. The fundraiser was a hit. Not only did we spread awareness but we also got tons of donations. Unfortunately, we were only able to fundraise on one day. Due to the weather we had to cancel our second location. We were trying to set up yet another location but due to finals week, we assumed the turnout to be low. Being a part of this fundraiser taught me first of all how to run one, and all the troubles and rewards that come with it. As for my refugee service experience, I must say it was definitely a learning experience. So much happened within the last few months that it is going to take a while to take it all in.
Helping others has always been an interest of mine. Through this class I have started to fulfill that interest.  It is very challenging to balance school, homework, work, and service all in one day. If I were to do this again I would take specific days off so I can fit it into my schedule easier. In the future, I do hope to participate in something like this again. Whether it be through LRO or another organization.

Karina Bucio
UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America
Third Reflection
Spring 2012

Alizey and I first visited our family Towards the end of February. As imagined, the first meeting was extremely awkward. Personally, growing up I was unavailable to bond with people of different cultures other than my own. So meeting this family was something extremely new. As we walked into the apartment, we awkwardly stood in the hallway for a few moments until we were directed towards the family area. All three of us, Alizey, Kesha, and myself sat on the same couch, with 4 sets of eyes curiously staring at us. We tried to communicate with the family but our language barrier was the basis for our failure. This ultimately frustrated me. After many attempts, we finally were able to tell them why we were there. Yet they still did not seem to fully understand. The next couple visits consisted of homework help, and more awkward sittings. The moments that we did bond, however, were extremely heartwarming. We often played games with the kids, and even got a chuckle from the dad who seemed to never want us around. From hence on, our visits pretty much consisted of homework. Often, we would visit the family and not find them. They had no phone number so informing them we were on our way was highly impaired.
Learning about refugees in class is nothing compared to actually interacting with them. In class we learn all the facts and what its like to be a refugee but from someone else’s’ view. Both books “What is the What” and “The Middle Of Everywhere” are two very descriptive narratives about life as a refugee, and life as someone who helps refugees. We however cannot fully know the hardships that refugees go through in their homeland, or the hardships they face upon arrival to their new home. Similarly, we can not fully understand what it means to help a refugee unless we do it for ourselves. Others may see things in a completely different perspective, one that we for one, may not agree on. It isn’t until we make that first bond with the family that we truly understand what helping a refugee is.
The refugee experience has taught me a lot. First it introduced me to a way of life that I had never thought about. I recall filling out my lunch application in middle school and looking at a section stating “Refugee”  At the time I didn’t know what that ment, and as I grew older I never bothered to look into it and educate myself. It was not until this class that I learned what being a refugee was like. Everything I have taken from this class has I believe made me into a better person. I learned not to be so narrow minded about other people. And most importantly, I learned how to educate myself, and others. One time during breakfast,  I started telling my parents about my family. My parents are directly from Mexico, and know nothing about the outside world other than their country. However they seemed very interested in what I was doing. My mom ended the conversation with something that will stick with me for a long time: “Its sad that people have to live under those conditions, but take this experience as a life lesson and be thankful for where you are and what you have, not everyone is as fortunate.” It was there where everything I had seen at the families house finally  sunk in. That could have easily been me. Until then, I had taken everything I had for granted, nor did I ever stop and thank my parents for everything they have done. Our refugee family is a strong family. They have come this far, and I’m positive they will accomplish great things in life.

During this semester I had the opportunity to volunteer with a refugee family. This was a very valuable experience. During my visits with the family we helped with homework, as well as interacted with family members and attempted to assist with the filling out of any paper work we were made aware of by the family. I believe that these visits helped to facilitate a transitional period for this family that the refugee resettlement agencies can’t. For the most part resettlement agencies are incapable of providing the level of assistance that refugee families require in adjusting to their new environment. This is partly because there are so many families, but in general the bottom line is they just don’t have the resources or the man power to provide all the services theses families need. I think that student volunteers are important in assisting to fill the gap between what refugee families need and what agencies are capable of providing.
This class has reshaped the way I see refugees as well as the way I see social responsibility. I have every intention of continuing to visit my refugee family next semester when I return to campus. I also hope to get involved in other refugee outreach efforts on and off campus. I hope to be able to be involved in raising awareness for this cause and will suggest this class to other students at Loyola. I would however suggest that part of the class be attributed to helping students learn practical skills for helping these families, such as how to fill out certain types of paper work. I say this because I personally found it extremely frustrating that there were times that I was incapable of helping the family to which I had been assigned because I was unclear on paper work.

This is the final reflection paper for this class and I’d like to take some time to reflect on this experience. Going into this I was kind of unsure as to what I was supposed to do during my time volunteering, this made me somewhat nervous to begin this experience over all. The first time we went to visit I believe that everyone involved was somewhat uncomfortable. Between my nervousness and the families limited English it made for an uneasy situation. I’m not sure if they really knew who we were and this led to a more complicated fist encounter. However as time progressed and we visited more and more, I think the family became more and more comfortable with us and we became more comfortable with them. Our visits fell into a usual routine. The first thing we would do is ask their eldest child (a 7 year old boy ) if he has home work that week. If the answer was yes, then my partner and I would help him with any home work he had. During this time our mentor usually played with their daughter who at the time was their youngest child. As time passed I became more and more attached to this family, though I had rather limited interaction with the parents. I found myself looking forward to Mondays, looking forward to the opportunity to see the smiling faces of this amazing family. As we spent more time in the family’s home we began to interact more with the adults in the family. Though we still haven’t had much in the way of conversations, the mother tends to sit with us more and you just get the sense that she is more comfortably with the fact that we are there.
A few weeks ago for the first time they brought papers out to us. They were very official looking and they asked us what they were. They were papers to reapply for benefits from Illinois human services. Now not to sound conceited, but I consider myself a relatively competent
American college student and I found these papers complicated. I can only imagine what it must be like for someone who can’t read or write in English. Let alone speak it. We did our best to
help them fill out these papers, but we also made sure that they had an appointment with their
case worker to help further with anything we may have missed or done incorrectly. It’s very
frustrating to think about how difficult it must be for this family and other refuge families to get
the help they deserve and so desperately need. Just a little while after this the family welcomed a new member, a beautiful baby girl. It was so great to meet this little bundle of joy for the first
time after Easter break. It was more than slightly aggravating though that even this little miracle come with paperwork which once again was rather difficult to understand. As time goes by we
seem to bond more and more with this family and though I will be going home for the summer I hope to be able to visit them again when I return in the fall. I feel that I have learned so much
from this experience.
I feel that it has been valuable in teaching just how much I take for granted in this world. I feel that the things I have learned from volunteering combined with the class itself has
transformed my view of refugees. It has made me much more aware of their struggles. It has
taught me that once a refugee is out of the camps, their troubles have not ended and has made
me realize the global population needs to take more responsibility for its people. The fact that
our government, even when we allow refugees entrance into this remarkable country; not only
expects them to be self sufficient within three months of coming here but also expects them to
pay back their complete travel costs within 2 years. It’s unreasonable. We need to give these
people more time to adjust to the entirely new world that they are being thrown in to.
My experiences this semester have changed and challenged my views. My experiences have made me more responsible in recognizing what I have as well as my responsibility to the global community.

Action Plan
This UNIV has provided many opportunities to do service for the refugee community. The class taught me about the struggles refugees go through and helped spread the knowledge of their challenges. Through these lectures, I learned about the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the story of the Lost Boys and there horrific travel to refugee camps while overcoming starvation, dehydration, and attack by government forces. I visited the Ukrainian national museum and learn about the history of its people and the harsh treatment they received under Joseph Stalin and the Soviet government. The highlight was the opportunity to work with a family from Burma and help them transition to life here in the U.S. By the end of the year, I had built a great friendship with their younger son and have helped the family with issues such as filling out government applications for assistance and installing internet service.
As part of my action plan, I want to continue to help my refugee family and stay in touch with them. I have the advantage of living in the same city as they do, so I plan on making visits over the summer and continuing my routine check-ups once the school year starts. This way, I can continue to be of service to the family and help the young boy develop and stay friends with him. I also plan on spreading the knowledge that I have learned through lectures and guest speakers about the refugee problem that exists. I have already told many in my family about the conflict in Sudan and the troubles refugees face in dealing with culture shock once they arrive. I also would like to be a mentor next year for the new UNIV class of freshman.

Chelsea Kuchik
UNIV 190-003
Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America
My Action Plan
This semester I began helping a family of Bhutanese refugees who had recently moved from Nepal with Kelly and Cody. The family consisted of a single mother, her two adolescent sons, and two younger daughters. During our visits we did everything we could to help them. Sometimes we simply had conversations with them and helped the kids with their homework. Other days we did random tasks. We helped them try to install a landline phone, fill out important childcare paperwork, and set up the first dentist appointment the mother had ever had. I think these actions had a significant impact on the community because we have filled in the blanks where the rest of the community has not. The mother might not have filled out those forms if I had not been there to help her. That involves government organizations intervening on people who simply don’t understand some of our country’s workings. I also hope we have helped put the children on the path to being successful in their future, helping them perfect their English and understand our culture more.
For myself, I plan to remain involved in the Refugee Outreach program as a mentor or at least try to make time to visit my family some times next semester. I also want to continue raising awareness in the community and use this experience to help me understand how I can really help impact the world. This program has encouraged me to continue on despite the obstacles and fill that role that seems to really be missing in the refugee community.

Chelsea Kuchik
UNIV 190-003
Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America
Third Refection Spring 2012

Looking back at my first reflection, I see two great polarities emerge in my feelings about visiting my refugee family for the first time: optimism and weariness. I would be lying if I said these feelings ever completely went away. The first is more understandable in the situation. Optimism comes with the job since we are given the opportunity to help those in need, the chance to alleviate some of the troubles associated with a refugee’s transition to life in a new country. The other, the feeling of weariness, was clearly displayed in my first reflection. Thoughts raced through my head: would they like me? Would they want me there? Would it be awkward? Would the language barrier be too much? Could I even help? I’ve come to the understanding that these fears, while understandable, only slightly touched the real issues. As I’ve continued to help my family, these two emotions have become more powerful in different ways; my optimism for their future is what drives me as I sometimes feel daunted by the task at hand and everything I want to do for them.
My “story” begins with Kelly, Cody, and myself, coming to a small apartment in one of Rogers Park’s many ethnic neighborhoods, pressing the buzzer to their apartment, and waiting ten minutes, eventually leaving when there was no response. This was my first introduction one of the biggest obstacles in the refugee world: miscommunication. After this, we were able to settle a time to meet and I was let into their tiny apartment, furnished modestly, and filled with the family’s mix of interested, confused, and shy expressions. They were a family of five: a single mother and her four children, two adolescent boys and two younger girls. We were all smiles, introducing ourselves and offering a small cake for the eldest son’s birthday, an icebreaker of sorts. I won’t lie. Initially it was awkward. I thank god for my limited knowledge of South Asian culture that helped pull me through times of sparse conversation, knowing a little about the Hindu faith and a few Bollywood movies can definitely help ease tension. I could write a novel on the aspects of each visit, which felt both like five minutes and fifty hours on certain days. It’s all a bit of a blur. I like to think we did as much as we could to help them. I remember the first “big” thing I did for the family was switching all of their clocks for daylight savings time. Something so small made me feel so accomplished, teaching them a foreign concept like daylight savings. Little did I know how minor it would seem by the end. While Kelly and Cody usually occupied themselves with the children’s homework, I found myself bonding with the mother. One day she brought me some paperwork she had gotten in the mail, about the youngest daughter’s childcare, overdue and important. It was so difficult to go through, translating important and sensitive questions about her income, child support, insurance, etc. but I know this was what I wanted to be doing. Helping with things that really mattered.
On our second to last visit, I began to really think about this experience as the bigger picture. I explained to the mother that the next visit was our last, after which I’d be returning to Cincinnati for the summer. I could see the mixture of confusion and sadness in her face as she simply asked, “why?” I was devastated. They had just gotten used to us and here we were leaving them. How many other people had simply walked in, offered them limited help, and then left? How many more would do the same? The answer was one I didn’t want to know. This is the major problem I see in the refugee community from my experience. There is no long-term care for these people. It is simply a mixture of luck and how much people are willing to spend out of the goodness of their own hearts.
Reflecting on this from a “me” perspective seems almost selfish at this point. Of course I have changed; I’ve seen people and caught a glimpse of what might be truly important and necessary in life. All I know is that I have to have hope. Like I spoke about in my second reflection, it is so easy to be disheartened. Will the mother ever be able to improve her quality of life despite her circumstances? I don’t know. Do the kids have a better chance at escaping poverty and other issues which face many refugees? I desperately wish. These questions aside, I do hold on to the hope that I’ve at least improved their lives a fraction from when I first walked into their home. I know I want to continue to support the refugee community. I know I can no longer be ignorant to the many refugees living all around me. Most importantly, I know about the issue and can help others learn as well. I remain weary, even after my experience, just at the sheer amount of troubles intertwined in the refugee community and how impossible it might seem to help all of them. Despite this, I still feel that optimism, a hope that humanity can save the day. This class has helped cement by belief that knowledge is power. It can help propel the refugees themselves out of their sometimes difficult circumstances; but more importantly, it can help educate the public on a widely unspoken issue that can hopefully lead to a better system of help for those who have, and continue to be, seeking refuge.

Reed Leopold

UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America

Spring 2012

Action Plan

Since February, I have been helping a Congolese family become associated with the United States. They fled their country for a many of reasons. It was mine and my partner’s job to help them get accustomed along with getting them or helping them acquire items to make life easier. Our actions with helping our family, aided the community in taking stress of certain companies. It also helped make the community better by not having confused people with broken English walking around and trying to ask questions.

I plan to engage in community service much more throughout my time at Loyola and even after I graduate. I want to get involved in Global Brigades and go to other countries and help people with problems that they have. I also plan to keep in contact with my refugee family and help them further in the future if need be. I know that everyone needs help from time to time and I’d like to be that person to help someone. This course has encouraged me to be more helpful and want to get out into not only the community but the world and provide a helping hand for those who need it. I want to get involved with different volunteering opportunities at Loyola because it is not very difficult and because it is stressed at Loyola. I want to get more involved, join Global Brigades, and keep in touch with my refugee family.

Claire Kohout
UNIV 190
4/4/12
Journal Entry Two
I met my refugee a mere month ago, and already she has managed to teach me countless lessons. On top of that she has proven to be more selfless and giving than any American I have ever met. I find it astonishing that a person who has been forced to live such a difficult life has been able maintain the best parts of humanity. A very provoking thought is whether or not her experiences were what made her able to be the type of person who she is. Nevertheless, it has been a difficult experience working with a refugee. There have been a few times that we have gone to the apartment and no one is there, and we have to wait. Additionally, breaking the language barrier can be very challenging, especially when trying to help. However, these challenges are what give me ideas for what to do on future visits.
The first visit to her home, my refugee was so welcoming. She met us with the absolute warmest smile I have ever seen, and despite having to wait for her to arrive I felt excited to begin. Both my partner Emily and I agree that no matter how many thing we have to do, just seeing her smile makes the time we spend with her worth every minute. After introducing herself to us, our refugee proceeded to introduce us to her younger brothers. Though they were very shy and spoke little english, I could tell that they too had excellent personalities. Once she had told us some of her history, such as where she was from and how long she had been living in the US, we asked what we could help her with. When she brought us her homework, I was relieved to see that it was something that I felt confident about helping her with. Her willingness to learn was inspiring, despite the fact that it seemed very difficult for her to complete the assignments as well as understand us. Therefore, in the future, I want to place a greater emphasis on working on her English, both written and spoken.
Our second visit, Emily, our peer mentor, and I all decided that it would be a good idea to help our refugee make a resume and begin applying for jobs. However when we got to the apartment, our refugee just seemed a little off. She was just as welcoming as before, but some of her sparkle was gone. She later told us that she had been to the hospital and was told she had pneumonia. We asked her if she would still be interested in going to the library to work out finding her a job and she didn’t hesitate to say yes. However, I felt a little discouraged when helping her to look for a job. There are not many jobs available that I thought would really fit our refugee. Though she was very willing to do any job, we were unable to find any during that visit. My goal before we leave for the summer is to find a decent and steady job that my refugee can do. I realize that this is a very difficult goal to accomplish, but I think that maybe with some extra English practice we will be able to meet it.
I knew from the start that working with a refugee would be difficult. There would be the language barrier and often times people from other countries have very different lifestyles that those in America. Even still, this has been an enjoyable experience, challenges aside. I actually am excited for Saturday mornings when I get to go and visit and really feel like I’m helping to improve another person’s life. I hope that as my time with this young woman continues, I will be able to minimize the challenges faced when working with her and help her to really adjust to life in the US.

Claire Kohout
UNIV 190-003
5/5/12
Final Reflection
If someone had asked me what I thought would be the most influential experience of my freshman year I probably would have said something about living in a dorm or being completely independent for the first time. Never would I have imagined that a class would be so instrumental in how my character would develop. Most people imagine large lecture halls and a droning teacher when they think of college classes; however, UNIV 190 is the opposite of that perception. The small class fostered discussion and understanding of topics that are too often ignored, and it is universally understood that the majority of the learning would occur outside of the classroom. Through the lessons taught in service work and class, I have come to understand that people change who we are, and that life experiences are only influential because of the people involved in them.
I often reflect upon the first time my partner, Emily, and I met our refugee. The kindness of her smile was unparalleled by any other person I have met. I was beyond nervous; for I knew little about Congolese culture, and was terrified I would say or do something that would offend this young woman. Only four years my senior, my refugee had already lived a life that many Americans would have trouble relating to. Nevertheless, I decided to try and familiarize myself with her. At first this was difficult because though her English was exceptional for only having lived in the United States for three months, it was hard to converse. After a few very awkward and broken conversations, I found that it was easier for Emily, Julia, and I to communicate with gestures as well as words. After assisting with some homework and saying goodbye, the three of us left with the promise to return the following week.
As our weekly visits continued, I came to find that you don’t always need language to build a relationship with someone. Aspects of character that often go unnoticed were highlighted in this young woman’s behavior partially because of the fact that we couldn’t always have conversations. For example, one weekend our refugee was sick and had been for a few weeks. Nonetheless, she managed to make us an entire meal without once asking for our help. I like to think that she was thanking us for assisting in her job search and ESL homework, but instead of merely saying thank you she made an elaborate, and delicious, meal.
I fear that too many people shy away from working with refugees for they fear the cultural differences and the language barrier are obstacles that are too great to overcome. If only these people were to spend a few hours with a refugee family they would see that their beliefs are dramatically misconstrued, and the lack of language can actually be essential in building a relationship. The biggest challenge that refugees face is their adjustment to the American lifestyle and culture. I for one was terrified to begin working with refugees, and had it not been a requirement for this class I doubt I ever would have. This is the problem that needs to be fixed, for without cultural brokers and people to help them become assimilated these valuable men and women may be lost in this new country. We can’t just expect people to come to America and know how to live an American life when they have never even been exposed to it. We need to realize that it is our duty to help them.
In the two and a half months that I have been working with refugees I have come to understand something very important. They are not only tough and resilient people that are eager to learn, but they are kind and accepting as well. They are warm and express gratitude in ways that remind you that you can make a difference. As my life in Chicago continues, I hope to continue to work with refugee families. I want to help them become oriented and comfortable in their new home. However, I understand that I am but one person, and the more that are willing to help the more good can be done. I hope to expand refugee outreach on the Loyola campus, as well as raise awareness in the community. I hope to dispel all misconceptions and show people the reason that there is no greater good than to change lives. I had previously mentioned that this experience made me realize that the people in our lives create us far more than the actual experiences. I know this to be true because one woman was able to make me overcome my fears and show me that the greatest reward is to see the positive effect that you have on another’s life.

Claire Kohout
UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice:
The Refugee Experience in America, Spring 2012
5.5.12

This semester I had the fortune to take a class based around working with refugees on the north side of Chicago. It allowed me to develop a personal relationship with a refugee as well as foster an understanding of not only the trials of being a refugee but the successes as well. I worked intimately with a twenty-two year old Congolese woman that had arrived in the United States a mere three months prior. With the help of my partner, Emily, and peer mentor, Julia, I helped this young woman develop new language skills as well as begin to search for work in this country. Though I only helped one woman and her family, I know that the information we provided her with would be shared among the refugee community and used to help others who are unable to have the opportunity to work with Americans.
After meeting a refugee family and working with them, I can reflect on the experience and come up with ways I could improve the process of connecting with and assisting them. First of all, I now know not to have any preconceived notions about refugees, for every person and their experiences are different. Through assigned readings and classroom discussions, I have been able to develop methods for overcoming the language barrier as well as understand how to be an effective ‘cultural broker’. As I continue to live in such a culturally diverse city, I hope to find more ways to assist refugees and their families while they become accustomed to their new lives in America and continue to be involved in Loyola Refugee Outreach. Additionally, I hope to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and encourage others to join me in working with them. The best way for these men and woman to become assimilated into American culture is to have an American help them.

Reed Leopold

UNIV 190-003: Understanding Service and Social Justice: The Refugee Experience in America

Third Reflection

Spring 2012

My Journey

My family was a very large family; it had five sons, a mother, and a father. I only saw the mother and father once, the very first time we went. The five sons we all older from 19-33, with having such a large family I had a very large group I worked with. My partners were Jeronimo, Trung, Cyryl, and myself. The first thing I noticed was the language barrier between me and my family. The barrier made it hard at first to communicate and made the situation somewhat awkward. However, after we got to know our family the language barrier meant nothing. Three of the five brothers lived in a one bedroom apartment. This made me sad because of the tight inconvenient space that they called their home. Also, none of the brother knew how to cook, which started to lead to an unhealthy diet.

My experience meant a lot of different things to me. It opened up my heart so to speak and have more compassion. I had been very stereotypical of these people. It showed me that they are people who are struggling and need help. It also means that I need to be more observant with my surroundings. Instead of passing the homeless person on the street stop and talk to them and ask them about their struggles. Working with my refugee family has taught me to be a lot more caring and compassionate. These are attributes that I can carry with me for the rest of my life. Seeing these refugees also shows me that withfaith and love you can overcome any feet, having determination as powerful means that anyone can conquer any task.

Being with my refugee family has made me strive to be a better person. It is teaching me to be happy with my material possessions that I have and that it could be far worse. The refugees leave their home were they have very little to almost nothing and they come here to the same as back home. They come to try and make a better life for themselves and their families. I am glad that I do not have to go through what they do but I feel great remorse for the struggles that they have to come and terrible memories that can haunt dreams. I cannot even imagine what they have gone through and the struggles that they have faced and will face. They inspire me so much to strive to be a better person. They have gone through so much but yet are so humble and kind. They are genuinely humble, sweet, caring people.

I think that the issue of refugees needs to be taken more seriously not only in the United States but throughout wealthy countries across the globe. The United States takes half of refugees that are resettled every year, which is still a small number. If wealthier nations across the world helped work to resettle and take in more refugees, the United States would not have as big of a burden handling them but also more refugees could be resettled and start a new life away from hunger and torment. That is one question that I raise, what can the United States do to get the wealthier nations involved in the refugee process from providing homes for refugees to background checks?

Overall, I have enjoyed being with my family. This class has taught me many things that I did not know about refugees in America and outside of America as well. Working with my family and other refugees has taught me about myself and how to become a better person. It also made me see that the United States takes in so many refugees and now all we need is more countries to take in more as well.