For most people, the holidays are a time to relax with our families and enjoy the comforts that the winter season can bring. But during the season of binge watching Hallmark’s 25 Days of Christmas and getting sick from grandma’s famous eggnog, it is necessary to reflect on those who may not have the same opportunities that many of us are privileged to have. While people fitting this description can be found on every corner, an especially vulnerable population in the world today are refugees. So far, 2017 has accounted for a total of 65.6 million displaced people all over the world, 22.5 million of those are refugees. In Utah alone, there are 60,000 refugees spread throughout the state.
In order to bring attention to the growing refugee crisis and facilitate a conversation in order to benefit a population that is within our reach, I talked with Kayla Norman, the Volunteer Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City. In our interview, she talks about the struggles refugees face, how the IRC helps them, and how citizens can get involved with the refugee population in Utah.
What are some struggles refugees face when coming to America, and how does the IRC help them?
Kayla: Navigating a new country is difficult for everyone! If you have ever traveled abroad, navigating public transportation, grid systems and money can be intimidating. These are the same obstacles our clients face, but the difference is we are looking to long-term success in the US.
At the International Rescue Committee, our focus is on self-sufficiency. We want to make sure refugees arriving in the US are empowered with the skills to be successful beyond the two years we get to spend with them. This means providing bus orientations so that they can get around town on their own, teaching health promotion classes to they can make doctors’ appointments and refill prescriptions independently, and connecting them with relevant resources we might not provide in-house.
What is the best thing people can do to help refugees in the Salt Lake Community?
Kayla: The number one thing you can do is become educated about the refugee crises around the world. The International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City offers twice monthly info sessions during which we talk about what it means to be a refugee, the resettlement process and ways to get involved. Once our community is empowered with accurate information about refugees and refugee resettlement, we hope that they can share those facts with their networks.
Please highlight some of the upcoming events for the holiday season.
Kayla: Every year the IRC in SLC hosts a holiday gift drive known as Light One Candle. This drive offers community members the unique opportunity to fulfill holiday wish lists for recently arrived refugee families and individuals, supporting their efforts to gain control of their future and become an integral part of our community. Those interested in supporting Light One Candle can visit our website rescue.org/SLC for more information or email SaltLakeCity@rescue.org
What are some of the struggles the IRC has been facing with the new administration and political climate?
Kayla: In the past year, we have seen executive orders drafted that have, for the most part, been deemed unconstitutional. What the administration does have control over is the number of refugees we can resettle in the US, which has been reduced to its lowest level ever of 45,000 refugees. It is important to remember that they’re at over 22 million refugees around the world and refugees coming to the US have been vetted by six domestic security agencies and are one of the most vulnerable populations in the world fleeing conflict and disaster without a place to call home. We are saddened and frustrated by the misguided decisions made to reduce this number, but continue to find ways to better serve those who do make through the vetting process and are able to build a life here in Salt Lake.
As a result of the reduction in resettlement, we are focusing on three pillars moving forward: family stability, positive integration and upward mobility. In an effort to better serve the refugees already in Utah, we have started our own in-house ESL program which aims to provide ESL instruction to those who are not able to access formal classroom learning, often due to the high cost of childcare. We have also brought on a career development coordinator to engage partners in providing skills training to advance career opportunities for our clients beyond entry level positions. Additionally, this spring we will have our own volunteer led tax preparation services to provide free, certified services to refugees.
We continue to advocate for refugees both locally and abroad by providing the community with facts about refugee resettlement.
If anyone is interested in lending a helping hand this holiday season (or any time of the year), please considered volunteering with the IRC. It is from personal experience that I can say refugees are extraordinary individuals and will make your holidays that much brighter.
For more information, follow IRC in SLC on Facebook, email any questions to SaltLakeCity@rescue.org
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