Announcement
Yassin Yassin at work in his Baltimore office.
Staff Spotlight
An Interview with Yassin Yassin, Caseworker
As a former refugee from Eritrea, Yassin has a unique understanding of how the resettlement process works. Though his work as a caseworker for the IRC in Baltimore, he is able to share his experiences and assist newly arrived refugees and Asylees as they rebuild their lives.
How did you join the IRC?
I’m originally from Eritrea but fled from war to a Shimelba Refugee Camp in Ethiopia in February of 2006. I then applied for the Diversity Lottery Visa in the U.S. 2007. Out of everyone in the refugee camp, one other woman and I were the only two who received the visa. Since I did not have a sponsor in the U.S., I was not able to obtain the visa because I didn’t have the funds necessary to move to the U.S. I was eventually resettled as a refugee in San Jose, California by another organization in 2009 and lived there for 6 months.
I then contacted the IRC to help me move to Baltimore where I was resettled as a second immigrant. I began working for the IRC as an interpreter where I was able to put my knowledge of Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, and Tigre to use. Since 2016, I have worked with refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants as a caseworker, helping those who are in positions similar to what I experienced.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I receive bio data of each client before they arrive to learn more about their background, and look for possible health concerns to see how I can best accommodate them. On the day of their arrival, I greet clients at the airport with a big smile and a warm welcome. I take them to their new, furnished apartment and explain everything that is necessary in order for them to have a comfortable first night: what to do in case of emergency, how the pipes and smoke alarms work and how to use the stove.
Another huge part of my daily work is one-to-one cultural orientation which starts in the clients’ home on the first night of their arrival and continues for their first few months in the U.S. When I visit clients on the day after their arrival, I typically bring them to the IRC office in Baltimore for an intake appointment. We apply for social security cards, medical insurance, public benefits, and exchange phone numbers and emails. Within a few weeks, I take the clients to a clinic hospital for a medical examination.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is the airport pickup as well as seeing the clients grow as they resettle over a period of months. The clients are always so happy and excited, and in the cases of separated families, the reunions are such a special moment to witness. I love seeing the clients begin working and establishing a rhythm to their life in Baltimore.
What is your greatest achievement/thing you are most proud from your work at the IRC?
There is always something to be proud of. My greatest achievement is the satisfaction I receive through my work with the IRC. Having been in the client’s shoes before, I am proud of being able to work with clients and see them grow during their time with the IRC. All my life, I work as a refugee.
What would you like people to know about your work?
I would like people to know that refugees and asylees are people who can benefit the community and the country as a whole. They have the strong will to work hard here in the U.S. because they came from very stressful places. They have a dream and opportunity to grow. This country can benefit from people with dreams who want to change their life and the world. I describe my job to be about helping people from different countries and cultures and I suggest we see each other within our one world, trying to make our dream right.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
I would travel to anywhere where there are refugee camps. I would love to continue searching for refugees and sharing my story while empowering, motivating and encouraging them that they must be strong and remain hopeful.
