Our first family is originally from Eritrea, a small country neighboring Ethiopia in the corner of East Africa. The two regions have been in conflict for almost 5 decades. The husband decided to seek refuge in Ethiopia with his family where they lived in a refugee camp for over 3 years. He taught elementary school before immigrating to the US recently. He is slowly adjusting to his new life with his wife, two children, 4 years old and 4 months old, and sister-in –law. He is taking English classes to speed up the integration. He is already quite good at speaking English, but is very soft spoken.

 

Our second family is a couple who are Bhutanese citizens from Nepal. They lived in the refugee camps on the Nepal borders with their parents for over 18 years. They married in Nepal while both were still living in separate camps. The husband is very talkative and energetic with high hopes for the future of his family. Both he and his wife speak English. His brothers live in the same apartment complex, so nieces and nephews come by and visit during the day. The husband's parents live with the couple here in the USA; they are waiting for his wife’s parents to join them from Nepal. The husband worked around the camps helping residents with basic computers needs and training.

 

Our third family is from Cuba. In this apartment there is a husband, wife and three children ages 4, 3, and 1 1/2 years old. We weren’t able to meet the husband since he was at work while we were visiting. He has already found two jobs. They left Cuba in February, and came to the U.S. through Mexico. All their parents were left behind. Just as for the other families we visited today, they have a beautiful family. The apartment where they live is well kept, but has almost nothing in it. One of the things the mother was hoping for was a toddler bed for the baby.

Our first family is a 32 year old mother and her three children, 2 girls ages 7 and 10 and a boy age 8.  They are from Burma and speak the Karen language.  In 2006 she walked with her children and about 10 other people to the refugee camp in Thailand.  The military informers were forcing the local rice farming villages to work for them for no pay.  They are Catholic and the mother has one sister still in Burma.  They arrived here in June.  The children are happy in school.  They are all studying English and the mother would like to find a job.  

 

Our second family is also a mother, age 48, with a son, age 16, and a daughter, age 17.  The mother has a part time temporary job, speaks a little English and is very pleasant and welcoming.  She speaks the Chin language.  In Burma she was able to get to level 7 in her education.  In 2007 she walked with her children and 5 others for 1 week to reach Malaysia.  They arrived here in June.  She still has her mother in Burma.  There was much evidence in her daughter’s room of writing talent, a command of the English language and a love of study.  They are very neat and tidy and do much with what little they have.

 

Our third family is a 58 year old father, 39 year old mother and two teenagers, a boy, age 16, and a girl, age 15.  In Burma they were rice farmers near a city.  In 1997, the father, who was an electrician, was able to make it to Malaysia, and it was 2007 before the mother and children were able to join them.  They were also very neat and tidy with fresh cut oleanders in vases.  They speak the Chin language and are Christian.  They arrived here in June and are most eager to find jobs.

 

Our fourth family is a Mother and father with two children, an adult male cousin, and a teen female cousin.  They are Karen from Burma.  They also were forced, by harsh treatment from soldiers, to flee to the refugee camp in Thailand in 1995.  They arrived here in August.  We visited with the mother who seemed sad and began to cry when she talked of her past.  She seems fragile.  It seemed an overwhelming situation in general and she could use some TLC and kind help organizing and learning about our cleaning supplies and their use.  They can really use 3 bike locks and hangers.  The 11 year old is a budding artist and could use drawing materials.

 

A NOTE FROM OUR FAMILY ADVOCATE: We are out of some items at the storage units that I know these families need or would like. Some items are: cleaning products (very important! They could use mops, brooms, dustpans, liquid cleaner, dish detergent, laundry detergent, bleach, rags, sponges, VACUUMS), pots and pans, baking dishes, VCR/DVD players, microwaves, and toys.  I know one family specifically requested art supplies for their talented son, and another asked for a world map or globe. Any help would be appreciated!! If you would like to schedule pick-up of your donation items, please click here.