Who exactly are refugees? Where do they come from? How do they end up in Cleveland? What services do they receive when they arrive here? What challenges do they face?
These questions and more were answered at this evening’s training for Refugee Mentors hosted by Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services. This year Catholic Charities will resettle more than 240 refugees in Cleveland from countries all over the world, including Burundi, Somalia, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan.
To supplement the basic services provided by Catholic Charities and the State government, Catholic Charities relies on volunteers to guide these new families in everything from taking public transportation to using the thermostat in their apartment. A number of BHITC volunteers have already gotten involved in this challenging and rewarding endeavor. Check back soon for personal accounts from mentors on their relationships with their refugee families.
To learn more about refugee populations in the U.S., check out these two web sites:
Cultural Orientation Resource Center
United Nations High Commission on Refugees
Trinity Lutheran will be hosting the next Refugee Mentor training on April 18th from 9am to 1pm. To register call 216-281-4673.
