A Country We Call Home

The past year was exciting for my parents and brother. They became naturalized U.S citizens! After living in the United States for over 20 years, my family decided it was time to show our loyalty to this country we call home. It was not an easy journey for my family. We came, not knowing the language and culture. The only person we knew was my grandfather. My father made this decision because he wanted a better future for my siblings and I. He didn't think we received the same type of education and opportunities in our home country. His ultimate goal was for his children to become successful in whatever we decided to do. 

We have many of these stories come through our citizenship classes. Most of our students are adult learners. Like my mother, they came to the United States not knowing the culture and the language. Even though they didn't know English, it didn't stop them from pursuing their American dream.

On the first day of class I always ask my students why they want to become U.S citizens. The two common answers I get are “better opportunities” and “freedom”. Our students either came to the United States on their own or as refugees fleeing for their lives. Their stories differ, but they share one thing in common; they came to a new country not knowing the culture or the language. Without knowing the language, they made Indiana their new home.

Coordinating the citizenship classes has been a rewarding job. Over the period of 10 weeks, I've seen students not only improve their English, but also boost their confidence. Many students confessed the most they had spoken English was during the citizenship classes. Many were soft-spoken and it seemed like they were embarrassed to speak English, because they were scared the other students would criticize them. Once they realized our classes were a safe and comfortable environment for them to speak English, that fear went out the window.

The day of their naturalization ceremony is an exciting and emotional day for the students and their families. These ceremonies reward new citizens for all their hard work and dedication. I am also a naturalized citizen, and I know the feeling of receiving that certificate. My heart wanted to burst with excitement knowing I could now vote and contribute to the place that had been my home for the past 20 years!

We want citizenship classes to continue to grow and expand. These classes wouldn't be possible without our volunteers. Please consider becoming an instructor or tutor for our citizenship classes. It’s a rewarding experience when you see the students proudly holding up their U.S flags and naturalization certificates!

*Rebeca has been the Citizen Education Coordinator with Refugee and Immigrant Services since September 2012.

People Are So Giving Here

Andrei was just 12 years old when the Soviet Union fell and his beloved country of Moldova gained independence and a fresh start. In the midst of initial excitement, Moldovans experienced the collective confusion of how to rebuild and start anew. Many regained possession of family-owned land that had been taken by the Soviets, only to find acre upon acre overgrown and weed-infested, with no resources to make it usable or profitable. With a lack of infrastructure, jobs were scarce and available jobs paid such low wages that most families lived below the poverty line. Andrei recalls how he watched many adults, devoid of purpose, literally drink their lives away.

Surrounded by this depression, Andrei found himself vulnerable to this same pattern as he grew into adulthood. He regrets that he fell victim to this lifestyle for a period of time, but his life changed when he had a spiritual experience that redirected the course of his life. As a result of this experience, he found new purpose in church involvement and actively caring for the disadvantaged around him. He found that some were receptive to these acts of care, while others were quite hostile. Andrei was not a member of the Orthodox Church, and was therefore considered a heretic by many who adhered to national traditions. He calmly relates that he was even beaten and stoned for his beliefs - a horror that he later found was to positively change the fate of his entire family.

Andrei, his wife, and his three children lived their lives as best they could in this environment. However, Andrei's heart was breaking as he envisioned his children's future. In particular, he was concerned for his firstborn son, who suffers from mental retardation and epilepsy. In Moldova, such children were denied education and often abandoned by parents who could neither tolerate nor afford them. He heard that there were special programs available for such children in the United States and dreamed that one day he might be able to provide special care for his son. As fate would have it, he found that his entire family was approved to resettle in the United States due to the targeted oppression Andrei had suffered.

Andrei's case was processed with the help of Catholic Charities Indianapolis - Refugee and Immigrant Services. His sister, who had married a man from America and moved to Indianapolis, filed a family petition with the assistance of resettlement staff. When Andrei and his family arrived in Indianapolis, they brought with them only a few suitcases and the hope for a new life.

Services provided by Catholic Charities Indianapolis - Refugee and Immigrant Services began by greeting them at the airport upon arrival and taking them to their new apartment. Over the next few months, Andrei and his family were connected to all necessary resources to start their lives again, including assistance with food, financial support, medical appointments, welfare, English classes, disability resources, employment training and even finding jobs. Additionally, all of Andrei's children were enrolled in school, including his son who had previously been unable to attend. Andrei became teary-eyed while recounting it all - he said, "People are so giving here."

Andrei is currently working as an administrative specialist for a local company, and is delighted to provide for his family. He expressed his deep gratitude for the services provided by Catholic Charities, and when asked how he feels about his new life here, he paused for a moment, smiled, and simply offered, "It's great."

A New Man

My name is Faisal Mohamed Awale. I’m a refugee from Somalia. I’ve been in the United States since 2012. The government in Somalia broke up in 1991. From 1991-2012 Somalia has been without a government, which caused a civil war to break out in my country. Things were bad and people were hungry. A friend of mine offered to give me four trucks of free food if I handled the distribution. I contacted leaders of churches and lands to organize the distributing of food. Because we didn’t get money from selling the food, some people got angry because me and my friend gave the food away. Even when there is good going on, evil is always around. The evil people threatened our lives. My parents told me to leave now and that they would take care of my six children. I left Somalia in haste. I left Somalia on December 15, 2007. My friend was killed for wanting to help the people of Somalia.  I went to one of our neighboring countries called Uganda. There, I was a man with only one leg, traveling by myself, with no parents, no children and no family. I decided to leave because of death threats, but also so that I could have a better life for me and my children. In Uganda I was given asylum. Even in Uganda as a refugee there was hunger. As rations, we were given for a month:  1.5 kg of maize, 1.8 kg of beans, 1.2 kg of csp (like cornmeal), .6 kg of oil and .15 kg of salt, not much for a month’s supply. Because I was a man with a plan for my life, I was driven; driven to succeed and prosper for my children. While in Uganda, I opened a shop. I sold food and goods to the people.

After being in Uganda for years, I was given the opportunity to come to the United States of America. I remember the first time someone said, “You will come to the United States of America”. All I could do was clap my hands. The plane ride I believe was 28 hours. We went from Kenya to Holland, to New York, and finally to Indianapolis, Indiana. We were helped by Catholic Charities immediately.

NOW I'M IN A NEW WORLD!

Catholic Charities helped me with housing, medical, education, transportation and also with the process of looking for a job! The staff at Catholic Charities has been wonderful!!! They have been helping me to bring my family here to the United States. I want to thank Catholic Charities for all that they have done for me, and Mr. Tim who has used his time to help me a lot. So I say to Mr. Tim, God Bless You!!

I want to thank the United States government for accepting me to be brought here. I thank President Obama for opening the door to refugees, like me.

When I got here, I didn’t understand the English language. Now, I’m a student in the process of getting my GED. I was just offered the chance to take advanced courses in English and Math. Not bad!! I hesitated to talk to people in person or on the phone. Now, I don’t hesitate and I talk for some of my other brothers and sisters. When I got here I was using crutches. Now, I’m walking on two legs. I have my prosthetic leg. I’m a NEW MAN according to what I used to be. I have a job and I’m awaiting the arrival of my children soon! On behalf of my children Mohamed, Sadak, Abdikadir, Said, Samiya, Hani and me, Faisal, I want to say Thank You!!! So, I’m very happy to live in America and let me be the friend to everyone.

* This letter was read at our 3rd Annual World Refugee Day Dinner. Faisal was also recognized at the dinner as Refugee of the Year.

My Story As A Refugee

My name is Sajjad Jawad and in my third visit to the U.S. on January 2010 I intended to make the U.S. my final destination to resettle in this new community for myself , my wife and my two kids.

Despite that I visited the U.S. twice on September 2004 and February 2008, it was hard for me to adjust with this huge transition to live in the U.S.

Through my work with the Civil Affairs American Army deployed in Iraq, I got the required documents to travel to the U.S. as a Special Immigrant.

Also, I worked in the United States Institute of Peace as the Senior Training Program Specialist and I started to train the senior Iraqi officials on the concept of peaceful conflict management.

Through my two jobs I was supporting a huge number of Iraqis and became famous as the guy who is helping the Americans to establish a new free democratic Iraq and finally I became part of the sacrifices to establish democracy in Iraq. 

The procedures in the Iraqi Embassy in Baghdad were smooth and well organized and I was able to travel to the U.S. within a few months after submitting my documents to the U.S. Embassy that coordinated with the International Migration Organization (IOM) too.

The IOM explained that they will allocate my family in Indianapolis and not in Virginia as I was originally planning for considering the high cost of living in Virginia.

Seeking advice from my friends in Virginia, I had been told that Indianapolis is a wonderful city and the cost of living is cheaper comparing to Virginia.

Upon my arrival to Indianapolis it was clear that I will smoothly adjust to the nice community here in the city of Indianapolis, one of the most beautiful cities that I ever saw in my life where the green spots are everywhere.

After two months I received a car from the teacher of my son in Nora Elementary School as appreciation for my volunteer activities to help the students speaking Arabic in this school.

Later on, I received another car from the mosque that noticed my volunteer help to my neighbor refugees and the mosque informed me that they will give a car as a gift for helping all refuges around me.

So in five months I received three cars where I use two of them and the third one was a permanent gift that I am keeping to this moment. The nice thing that very time the donor was filling the car with the fuel to show complete appreciation for complete volunteer support to others.

The leader of Catholic Charities, Gabrielle Neal, offered all support to find me a suitable administrative job, but most of the jobs were variable jobs and finally Gabrielle offered me the full time in the unique Catholic Charities as an Employment Assistant.

Through Gabrielle I was connected to a special program that allows refugees to buy their houses regardless of their credit history and I purchased a nice house and moved to it on December 2012.

Many other refugees adjusted in the community of Indianapolis and they started to buy their houses.

The refugees expressed their admiration for the standards of living dominating the community of Indianapolis and in the great nation of the U.S. where all laws decreed to support all categories of community starting from children, women and old people.

I am an optimistic person, but after living in Indianapolis I became more optimistic and I feel that I can be a good source to help all people.

Iraqis are not experts to live abroad or in exile, but the U.S. became a real home of peace for me and for my entire family.

  *Sajjad currently serves as Manager of Employment Services.

U.S. Dept. of State PRM and UN Refugee Agency visit Indy

Yesterday, we had the honor of meeting with Lawrence Bartlett, Director of the Refugee Admissions Office of the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and Shelley Pitterman, Regional Representative of the UN Refugee Agency. Our staff joined Exodus Refugee and Immigration Inc. in the meeting. There, staff had the opportunity to learn more about the enormous effort and worldwide teamwork needed to help refugees. Amid the constant news of a world in turmoil, hearing about the global effort of so many entities to identify and resettle refugees was truly a ray of hope. Sitting in the meeting, with staff from across the world (some of them resettled refugees themselves) one was aware of a common bond between all men, a good will uniting us in the belief that we are all called to look out for one another, especially the most vulnerable. As all parties became more familar with each others' particular roles, we also discussed the future of resettlement and who the U.S. will be welcoming in the months to come. While the majority of our clients in Indianapolis have been Burmese in recent years, that will begin to change in 2013, with an increase of arrivals from Iraq. Also looking forward to a new life in our community will be the Congolese people. When you find yourself discouraged, wondering if there is any goodness left in the world, remember the kindness being extended by our country and so many others in an effort to care for the most vulnerable and invite them to a new home.

While State Department and UN officials were in town, they visited a company in Indianapolis making efforts to hire from among the Burmese population. Indy Star covered the story.

*Mike has been working with the Refugee Program since January of 2011. He currently serves as Outreach Coordinator.

Rewarding Work

Working with refugees is some of the most rewarding work. The staff and I get the opportunity to actively work at improving the quality of one’s life. We get the chance to change lives and impact others for a living; however, as much as we give to the refugee community, it is often us who are blessed. The refugee population at Catholic Charities comes from many different countries and even more different languages. They come to the United States not only looking for a better life but often times to stay alive. They have traveled by foot, boat, car, bus, and airplane. They have lost loved ones, seen horrific events take place before their eyes, and have spent years living in continual fear. Yet, they are resilient. They have shown so many resiliencies in the face of so much adversity. They are so eager to learn and then return the gift of learning to those coming behind them. They are excited about life in the United States. They are willing to work in factories even if they were doctors in their home country. They are facing life head on with a determination exhibited by few others. Although each refugee story is unique, each story tells a tale of hope, courage, and strength.

As Americans, I think we so often take for granted the free country that we live in. We have a home to live in, food to eat, and are not running in fear for our lives, and yet we often fail to remember that this is not a guarantee for many others scattered throughout the world. We could all learn a thing or two from the refugees. We can learn about hope, gratefulness, joy, and resiliency.

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigrant Services invites you to be changed and impacted by the journey of a refugee. Whether that is volunteering with our agency or simply becoming more familiar with the refugees who live in your community and across the world. If everyone could stop for a moment, take a step back, and try to see this life through the eyes of refugee I believe we would all live life a little better. 

*Michele has been working with the Refugee Program since August of 2009. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Resettlement Services.