Who Are Refugees?
The Welcome to America Project serves
foreign refugees who have recently been relocated by U.N. supported resettlement agencies to the Phoenix area.
These families have usually been in refugee camps for 10-12 years and often come from Afghanistan,
Iraq, Iran, Burma, Kosovo, Macedonia, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria, Bhutan and even Cuba. The refugees we help ultimately
become U.S. citizens and are highly motivated, resourceful and eager to start a new life. They develop strong ties to their
new communities, make active contributions, work hard and pay taxes.
The United Nations defines a Refugee as "someone who has fled his
or her country because he/she fears persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion."
The definition is often expanded to include people fleeing war or other armed conflict. Refugees generally do not choose to
leave their homes, but are forced to flee for their lives. Many Americans desperately wait for their refugee spouses, parents
and children who are still trapped in life-threatening situations overseas. We want them to know that the USA is a hopeful
place of liberty and peace.
To read more about the refugees we help, click here to send us an email to sign up for our newsletter. We send our printed newsletter
out 3 times per year, and include stories and photos of families we help and the volunteers who support us.
Click here to see photos of the current refugee crisis in the Congo.
