Trainees

Recently, someone asked my why I would spend my time working with refugees when so many US citizens are out of work. The question was an honest question and as I probed a little further I realized my friend had a few misconceptions that are probably pretty common.

The first assumption my friend made was that refugees has come to this country by illegal means. This is a common misunderstanding. Refugees are invited to the our country by the US government. The rules for qualifying for such an invitation are very stringent. Refugees have nowhere else to go and have often spent years in refugee camps, unable to return to their home land due to ongoing strife or persecution.

The second misunderstanding was that the refugees are in the goverment’s care, so why should we, in the private sector put our efforts into their well-being? Besides my initial response, that anyone in need is my neighbor, it’s important to understand that refugees are expected to get on their feet and become self-sustaining in a very short period of time (usually eight months, sometimes less). After that, governemnt aid ends, and they must fend for themselves.

The third misunderstanding was the idea that refugees have come to this country wanting a ‘hand out.” This is not true. I believe they come to this country hoping for a “hand up.” And that is an entirely different matter. They simply want a little help getting their feet under them and a chance to establish a home in a community in their new country.

Finally, I got the feeling that my friend was worried that if we helped refugees find work, this would take work away from our “own” people. Call me idealistic, but I believe that there is still plenty to go around. Perhaps not plenty of jobs right now, but plenty of the American spirit, the spirit that said, if I work hard and I help others, together we can build something great. I believe that if we give, whether to our own citizens in need, or our newest immigrants, we will begin to open wide the doors to build something great, not just for our refugee friends, but for America.

Well, that was a little soap-box. Would love to hear your comments. SF