Above: A handful of the 10,000 Syrian refugees who made it Bulgaria in 2013. (http://blogs.ft.com/photo-diary/2013/11/syrian-refugees-in-bulgaria/)
Imagine...
Can you imagine fleeing your home due to war or persecution, possibly with nothing more than the clothes on your back? After you have fled, you find yourself in a makeshift camp, possibly for years, waiting anxiously for your fate to be determined. Finally, a decision has been made. You board a plane and arrive in your new home. New language. New culture. New systems. All the while, you try to land a new job. This scenario was the case for over 1,000 refugees who were resettled in Portland in 2013. IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) is one of the organizations which helps these individuals to get started with their new lives.
Growing up in small community in northern Minnesota, I had never met anyone from Africa, Asia, or the Middle East. It wasn't until I moved to Oslo, Norway that I discovered the refugee community. I remember walking down a hallway of refugee housing and meeting a family from Syria, a man from Somalia, six young men from Afghanistan, two men from Iraq, and others from Kosovo, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Georgia (the country) and Iran. Hearing their stories of escape, travel, being separated from loved ones, being miraculously reunited, and their courage to face a brand new culture and language all had a life changing impact on me.
Growing up in small community in northern Minnesota, I had never met anyone from Africa, Asia, or the Middle East. It wasn't until I moved to Oslo, Norway that I discovered the refugee community. I remember walking down a hallway of refugee housing and meeting a family from Syria, a man from Somalia, six young men from Afghanistan, two men from Iraq, and others from Kosovo, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Georgia (the country) and Iran. Hearing their stories of escape, travel, being separated from loved ones, being miraculously reunited, and their courage to face a brand new culture and language all had a life changing impact on me.
IRco's mission
IRCO’s mission is to promote the integration of refugees, immigrants, and the community at large into a self-sufficient, healthy, and inclusive multi-ethnic society.
History
Due to political turmoil in Southeast Asia during the mid 1970's many people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fled their homes and resettled in Oregon and Washington. In 1985 these individuals formed IRCO right here in Portland. Ever since, IRCO has committed to maintain a staff that is just as diverse as the individuals which they serve. Today they have five main locations which each serves a different purpose within the community. These locations include; IRCO Main, Africa House, Asian Family Center, Senior Services Center, and the International Language Bank.
values
Some of IRCO's values are empowering communities, families, and individuals. They are culturally and linguistically inclusive, they aim for long term viability and sustainability, and they partner with communities, government agencies, and other non-profits.
My Role
My involvement with IRCO pertains to pre-employment training. Each week I sit in a classroom with a few individuals that have been selected to receive specialized tutoring. We work on job interview vocabulary, how to fill out job applications, and English grammar that may be a challenge to them. During these times I have grown in my understanding of the challenges that these individuals face in adjusting to life here in the United States. Furthermore, I have grown in my appreciation for the vital services that IRCO provides to this specific population in order to encourage and support their autonomy within this community.