“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others."

---Ghandi

Who is a Refugee?

► Someone found outside his/her home country who has a “well founded fear of persecution” because of his/her:

Race, religion, nationality, social group membership or political opinion

► 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Who is in Lansing? Afghans Bhutanese Bosnians Burmese Burundians Congolese Croats Cubans Ethiopians Eritreans Hmong

Iranians Iraqis Kurds Liberians Meskhetian Turks Somali / Bantu

Somali Sudanese Vietnamese Immigrants from

all continents of the world

And many others. . .

2010 Statistics

In 2010 the RDC:

►Offered services to 850+ people representing over 40 countries

►Secured over 300 volunteers

Bhutan; 228

Burma ; 127

Burundi; 2China ; 1Cuba; 38

Egypt; 4Eritrea; 2Iran; 9

Iraq; 155

Somalia ; 53

Sudan; 9 Vietnam; 4 Congo/Zaire; 24

*St Vincent Catholic Charities/Refugee Services

648 people resettled in Lansingin FY 2010*

Coming To America

What children may face

► Yet another move / life outside a refugee camp

► Traumas lost parents, hunger,

violence, etc

► School and language pressures

► Unexpected and unbalanced responsibilities within their families Inverted power structure

► Poverty in the “Land of Opportunity”

By surviving life threatening and dangerous war situations,

children may have learned:*

1. The world is NOT a safe place2. Parents and other adults cannot protect you3. You cannot trust anyone4. You are hopeless5. You are powerless6. Violence is a way to resolve conflicts7. Others will respect you if they fear you8. Death can happen at any time9. Tomorrow may never come

*Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvt.org)

What is the Pathway Out?

EducationSupport

& Opportuni

ty

It Takes a Community to Welcome Newcomers

►Partners: Lansing School

District►65 countries, 51

languages MSU Peckham Industries Christ Lutheran

Church & the Greater Lansing Faith Community

Resettlement Agencies

Donors, Funders & Friends

Doing Our Part:

►History & Mission►What we Offer:

ESL Classes Drop in assistance Youth Programming

►Summer Camp►Tutoring►School orientations

Parent Programming – orientations & groups

Advocacy

Thank you for joining our cause!