There have been over 45,000 refugees resettled to Georgia (mostly Atlanta) and that number continues to grow at a rate of about 2,000 each year. These individuals did not ask to come to America, but were, for the most part, respected, productive and responsible members of their society when suddenly everything was taken from them including their homes (usually some insane war that they had no interest in). These are our newest neighbors and the newest Americans. These are the people who will become the substance of a new generation of tales about what makes this country STILL the greatest on the planet. And yet when these new Americans get to their new home, within a very short period of time they are left to fend for themselves.
I think it is very important for everyone to recognize what a refugee is and to really try to understand what it would be like to have EVERYTHING gone in an instant ... often even family ... and to be all of a sudden expected to 'figure it out' and survive in an entirely new culture. If you ever want to learn more about the plight of Atlanta refugees, check out www.refugeefamilyservices.org. I also recomend RFS for some of the most rewarding (and needed) volunteer opportunities in the city.
RFS provides unique services that focus on making refugees self sufficient in their new environment. Their success, in my opinion, is largely related to their decisive and successful efforts at incorporating the populatioin they serve into their staff. From what I have learned through this organization, I have concluded that without these services, the chances that a refugee would become a happy and productive member of society are very low.
Has anyone had experences as or with a refugee?