Accepting Refugees
The Hidden Issues Of Fort Worth
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL
Root Problem:
Organizations such as the Refugee Services of Texas are working constantly to resettle refugees and support them as they begin a new and better life. But what have the chosen communities done to welcome their new neighbors? The members of our community need to be educated on the cultures, struggles, and situations of their new refugee neighbors in order accepting and successful.
Facts About Local Refugees:
1. 343 refugees resettled in Tarrant County Last year
2. Texas resettles the most refugees in the US (2,677 between October and March of last year)
3. Tarrant County is one of the top three counties to resettle refugees
4. Refugees in Texas are generally from Myanmar, Iraq, Dem. Rep. of Congo, and Somalia
Goal Statement:
We will educate the public on the culture and challenges facing refugees in our community. By informing the community of the differences in culture and the situations of their new neighbors, we can create a helpful and accepting environment with a PSA and a S'more.
WHAT IS A REFUGEE
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.
WHY DOES THEIR CULTURE MATTER
HOW TO HELP
School
- Food drives for refugees who don't have enough food
- School announcements to inform peers about refugees and their struggles
- School supply drive for refugees who need help getting started on their first school year
- Clothing drive for refugees who need help getting clothing
- Personal research to be able to better understand more about refugees to correctly inform peers
- Fundraiser to raise money for organizations who help refugee
Local/State
- Organize petitions to bring the issues to the government and gain more support
- Volunteering to donate your time to refugees and the organizations that support them
- Participating in rallies to raise awareness and gain support
- Meet with government leaders to get the word out and receive results for refugees
REFUGEES WELCOME
WOMEN AND CHILDREN REFUGEES
CHILDREN REFUGEES
WHAT WE LEARNED
Lauren: "Refugees go through a lot of struggles, and those struggles continue to stack up over time if they are not helped."
Caleb: "Refugees need a lot of help, and I feel like I can help."
Carter: "I didn't know refugees had such a hard time when they got here, I thought getting here was the hardest part."
Garrett: "Refugees suffer from social rejection a lot."
Steven: "Every refugee is different, and we should come to understand their different personalities and purposes."
HELPFUL LINKS
Refugee Services of Texas - Fort Worth: https://www.rstx.org/fort-worth/
World Relief Fort Worth: https://worldrelieffortworth.org/refugee-resettlement-services
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: http://refugees.org/
International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org/article/how-help-refugees-united-states-10-ways-stand-welcome