INTERFAITH REFUGEE MINISTRY Dedicated to helping refugees ...
INTERFAITH REFUGEE MINISTRY Dedicated to helping refugees rebuild their lives in eastern North Carolina Throughout IRM’s 24 years, Episcopal churches in our Diocese have played a vital role in welcoming refugees who come as strangers and become friends and colleagues. As the hands and feet of Jesus, parishes and individuals have helped newly arriving refugees to feel at home by providing not only material comforts but also friendship, mentoring, and tutoring. Services that IRM and churches provide include assistance with housing, clothing, food, and furnishings. IRM also enrolls adults in English classes and Cultural Orientation classes, and makes sure children are enrolled in school. Our Employment Specialist finds jobs within an average of 75 days after arrival at employers such as Bosch and Moen. All families are self-sufficient through the employment of at least one family member by six months after arrival. New Bern Statistics for 2016
Arrivals – 198 Nationalities – Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Colombia Average Family size – 2.5 Languages from Burma – Burmese, Chin, Karen, Kachin, Rohingya, Shan Other languages – Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, French, Lingala, Swahili. Education – varies from none to university degree Occupations – photographers, nurse, brick masons, vendors, midwife, interpreters Projected arrivals for 2017 – 210 Refugees were resettled in New Bern, Greenville, Jacksonville and Morehead City.
The Refugee School Impact Grant allows Interfaith to partner with the Craven County School system. After school programs at five schools, cultural enrichment field trips and Parent Academy classes all serve to help new students and their parents adjust to life in America. In addition, this grant provides for in-school ESL teachers. Children are thriving in this environment and quickly learn English which is essential for them to reach or maintain their grade level. Cultural Orientation and English as a Second Language classes for adults continue at the IRM office and in homes. Tutors receive training and materials and primarily work in homes where mothers have small children and are unable to come to the IRM office for classes. Local retirement community members met with three Congolese who are fluent in English for conversation. For six weeks they talked about their lives in their respective countries; what is was like to grow up there and many other topics. Other adult learners have had field trips to Books-a-Million and Trent River Coffee Company. These are all opportunities to learn more about their new world by observation and interaction. New for 2017 will be the opportunity for the New Bern office to work with interns. We will have two from ECU and one from Barton College. They will be with us for spring semester and will work in a variety of capacities from creating and facilitating groups to interpreting for classes. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful. Even at a distance, your church family can make a difference to a refugee by donating items or cash or by “adopting” a particular family and assisting with initial needs.
Wilmington The Wilmington sub-office is going strong with many churches and volunteers to help them in their mission. Wilmington statistics for 2016
Arrivals – 134 Nationalities – Burma, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Colombia Languages – Burmese, Sgaw Karen, Chin, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Kibembe, Spanish Education – varies from none to university level Projected arrivals for 2017 – 125
The Wilmington office partners with the Cape Fear Literacy Council to teach adult refugees English. Wilmington also has about 10-12 interns each semester who help with case management; employment; job readiness classes; housing; and Cultural Orientation. For more information, please visit our web site (www.helpingrefugees.org) or Facebook page. If you are in or near New Bern, and would like to explore how you can help us, please call Susan Husson at 252-633-9009. In or near Wilmington? Call Sara Pascal at 910-264-7244. The following is from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue “On Meeting a Stranger” With respect And reverence That the unknown Between us Might flower Into discovery And lead us Beyond The familiar field Blind with the weed Of weariness And the old walls Of habit.
Arrivals – 198 Nationalities – Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Colombia Average Family size – 2.5 Languages from Burma – Burmese, Chin, Karen, Kachin, Rohingya, Shan Other languages – Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, French, Lingala, Swahili. Education – varies from none to university degree Occupations – photographers, nurse, brick masons, vendors, midwife, interpreters Projected arrivals for 2017 – 210 Refugees were resettled in New Bern, Greenville, Jacksonville and Morehead City.
The Refugee School Impact Grant allows Interfaith to partner with the Craven County School system. After school programs at five schools, cultural enrichment field trips and Parent Academy classes all serve to help new students and their parents adjust to life in America. In addition, this grant provides for in-school ESL teachers. Children are thriving in this environment and quickly learn English which is essential for them to reach or maintain their grade level. Cultural Orientation and English as a Second Language classes for adults continue at the IRM office and in homes. Tutors receive training and materials and primarily work in homes where mothers have small children and are unable to come to the IRM office for classes. Local retirement community members met with three Congolese who are fluent in English for conversation. For six weeks they talked about their lives in their respective countries; what is was like to grow up there and many other topics. Other adult learners have had field trips to Books-a-Million and Trent River Coffee Company. These are all opportunities to learn more about their new world by observation and interaction. New for 2017 will be the opportunity for the New Bern office to work with interns. We will have two from ECU and one from Barton College. They will be with us for spring semester and will work in a variety of capacities from creating and facilitating groups to interpreting for classes. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful. Even at a distance, your church family can make a difference to a refugee by donating items or cash or by “adopting” a particular family and assisting with initial needs.
Wilmington The Wilmington sub-office is going strong with many churches and volunteers to help them in their mission. Wilmington statistics for 2016
Arrivals – 134 Nationalities – Burma, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Colombia Languages – Burmese, Sgaw Karen, Chin, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Kibembe, Spanish Education – varies from none to university level Projected arrivals for 2017 – 125
The Wilmington office partners with the Cape Fear Literacy Council to teach adult refugees English. Wilmington also has about 10-12 interns each semester who help with case management; employment; job readiness classes; housing; and Cultural Orientation. For more information, please visit our web site (www.helpingrefugees.org) or Facebook page. If you are in or near New Bern, and would like to explore how you can help us, please call Susan Husson at 252-633-9009. In or near Wilmington? Call Sara Pascal at 910-264-7244. The following is from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue “On Meeting a Stranger” With respect And reverence That the unknown Between us Might flower Into discovery And lead us Beyond The familiar field Blind with the weed Of weariness And the old walls Of habit.
