Project Helps Burmese Asylees
LIRS Director for Asylum and Immigration Concerns Matt Wilch, Director for Case Processing Florentina Chiu, Assistant Director for Case Processing Angela Williams, Director for Matching Grant Diane Landino, and Assistant Director for Reception and Placement Suzanne Paszly were among the well-wishers on hand for the anniversary celebration. Also in attendance was Marta Brenden, project director for the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and a former LIRS staff member, who congratulated the asylees for their many achievements. She inspired them with a reminder that the current director of ORR also came to the United States as a refugee. ORR Matching Grant Team Leader Ron Munia encouraged them to continue their studies and strive for advancement in their careers. To help the asylees adjust to life in America, and to coordinate the services to which they are entitled, this spring LIRS hired Pai “Paul” Uk as Burmese asylee project coordinator. Paul, himself one of the asylees, organized the anniversary celebration for his fellow Burmese. “Before we left Burma, we talked of getting together on our first anniversary of freedom,” says Paul. “It touches my heart that we did it.” This year Paul created a database to keep track of the Burmese asylees. “Some are still moving around—we aren’t all settled yet. If someone moves, I contact the leaders, and they tell me,” explained Paul. “Some move for jobs, others move to join friends.” LIRS is very excited about the second phase of the project—a national initiative to facilitate the integration of Burmese asylees into their new communities. The project has four major areas of focus:
In his work, Paul has the opportunity to guide his fellow asylees. “Getting a job if you don’t speak English well is hard,” says Paul. He reviews their résumés and guides them to available jobs—primarily in factory work. “I tell them to write down their name, address and Social Security number. I teach them phrases like ‘Hello. My name is——,’ ‘I want to work,’ ‘I will learn English better.’ I tell them to arrive a half hour early. If you don’t speak English, you don’t want to have to explain why you are late!” Paul also counsels them about freedom. “In
our country we could do nothing. Here we can do everything. I say
use freedom wisely. Make good choices. Work, save money, help your
family and go for more education.”
«
Previous Article | Next Article »
|
On
Saturday, August 3, some 80 Burmese asylees gathered at Christ Lutheran
Church in Baltimore to celebrate their first anniversary of living
in the United States. Asylees from Maryland, Virginia, the District
of Columbia, Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas were joined
by several well-wishers for a traditional Burmese lunch where they
told stories of obstacles overcome, sang songs and offered their
gratitude to those who assisted them in their journey from Burma
to Guam and finally to their new home in the United States.
  No. 230
|