Announcement
World Refugee Day falls on June 20 every year and was established in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This holiday sheds light on the unique lived experiences of refugees and celebrates the ways in which they have shaped the world around us. The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) global theme for World Refugee Day this year is “Refugee Changemakers,” highlighting the remarkable—and everyday—ways that refugees influence art, food, ideas, policy and all areas of our culture. The IRC in NY resettlement office assists over 2,500 individuals every year with services that are tailored to their distinct experiences and interests. Together, the IRC in NY staff and clients value the resettlement journey as one filled with successes and challenges. Success can be anything from feeling more comfortable with the English Language, landing an interview, or getting connected to a doctor for critical medical care. Success means something different for each client.
Below you will hear from clients and staff who reflect on World Refugee Day and the meaning of success
Giorgi Stephnadze, an Employment Specialist at the IRC in NY office, finds success in his role by connecting clients to jobs and career development. That includes resume building and interview technique workshops that tailor to clients’ goals and vision of success. Above all, he sees success as having positive relationships, whether it be between himself and clients, or more importantly, facilitating an understanding between employers and clients.
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A client was having a difficult time finding work and turned to the IRC in NY for help. Living in a big family household, she feels the pressure to help provide. In June, she landed an interview for an Elderly care position. If hired, her employer will cover the cost of her HHA certification, which would be a big relief for her financially. She feels hopeful despite initially struggling with the prerequisites of needing to speak English. In the IRC matching grant program, she focused on preparing her resume in order to submit her job application. That was really challenging but worth the effort.
She shares: “I feel good about having this resume, I keep looking at other jobs now and feel confident using my resumes in other roles...Since arriving in the United States, I’ve felt proud to be independent. Everything is different- the language and how people socialize. As an example, in my country, it is very common to greet everyone. It’s a bit different here, but still very nice. Now that I am getting used to living here, I love using google maps to move around. In the family, I am the go-to person for directions.”
When asked what success means to her, she believes that “it’s the moment you achieve financial independence and feel more grounded and ready to mobilize. It's getting a job, but also feeling good that I can take care of my expenses. My goal is to achieve the goals I outlined with my caseworker so I can work towards the long-term.”
…“Soon, I want to be financially stable and cover my basic needs. I also want to learn and speak English. Much in the future, I would like to use my degree/license from back home where I was an expert in financial operations. I am intrigued by what training I should consider. It's not definite, because I am open to gaining experience and from there, ease into my career.”
-Client in EE Program
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Another hurdle for most refugees to navigate is the language barrier. To help bridge this gap, the IRC in NY offers English classes at different levels.
Sarvy Khoshroo is one of IRC’s newest ESL instructors, facilitating up to 3 online English classes at a time. To her, success is:
“when my students actively participate in the class, demonstrate progress in their language skills, and feel empowered and confident in their abilities.”
Students from different educational backgrounds may have limited resources and are in the process of recovering from distress or trauma. These experiences may hinder the learning process. By adapting her teaching methods and materials to respond to the unique needs of her students, Sarvy is able to alleviate some of these difficulties.
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A client who is a student in one of the IRC in NY’s ESL classes works hard to gain the confidence to participate and actively learn in class. Initially resettled in Warsaw, Poland after the war started in Ukraine, she moved to New York last fall to seek better job opportunities for her and her husband. Although she took English classes at her university in Ukraine, she was very nervous about her ability to understand and speak English upon her arrival in the United States.
She shares “I went to the dentist one month after moving to New York and couldn’t understand anything they said. After that, I went home and told my husband, ‘We have to move back to Poland.’”
However, despite this fear and discomfort, she continued to seek opportunities to learn and practice the language. She is currently enrolled in two English classes, including one at the IRC in NY. After taking these classes, she feels more confident in her ability to speak English and is no longer afraid to apply for jobs or speak up in class.
She is optimistic about her future and hopes to improve her English to the point where she can apply for a job in marketing, as she worked in marketing while in Ukraine. She also hopes to someday buy or rent an apartment in New York City and help her parents back home as much as possible. Finally, she expresses that more than anything, she wishes to “understand Americans, their culture, and especially their humor.”
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Refugees are changemakers of their own journey, who determinedly transform and affirm their sense of belonging through community. The very fabric of New York City is multicultural, often regarded as the country’s “melting pot”. This rich cultural diversity is what distinguishes New York from other cities around the country; it’s what draws people to the city, allowing them to experience life in a new way and develop a distinct perspective of the world around them.