Career and educational connections create links between refugees and the general public. Discuss the importance of these relationships and the challenges of curating connections between vastly different groups.
- How can refugees and non-refugees be best prepared to work with one another?
- What is the role of the relationships that stem from refugee education and work in breaking down stigmas?
- How can educational or career creating organizations assist with the rebuilding or the resettlement processes?
How can educational or career creating organizations assist with the rebuilding or the resettlement processes?
Finding a job is vital in the resettlement process as every newcomer's goal is self-sufficiency. There needs to be an entity that if facilitating these connections and teaching newcomers basics about how to apply, as the process is different in every country. We have a section on our website that assists with that process: https://usahello.org/resources/jobs-and-careers/
Having said this, there is also a huge difference in supporting newcomers in finding entry-level vs. professional positions. Professionals may come to the country now knowing if their certifications or education is recognized in the US and if not, how they should proceed. Internships and apprenticeships are ideal in bridging these gaps. They allow the individuals to assimilate to workplace culture, learn skills, and build their resume. Brain drain is a huge problem in countries with conflict and this would minimize the workforce loss for both countries Ideally, someone in the resettlement agency would be responsible for providing this information and facilitating these connections.
When it comes to stigma in an educational setting, we have found that most educators have little or no training in working with multicultural populations. The refugee crisis is not an exceptional event, it is just larger than before. We need to recognize that refugee integration will be an omnipresent issue. For both adult and child education, sufficient training needs to be provided to teachers. They need basic information on different cultures, how to engage with ESL students, and how to recognize and appropriately ameliorate trauma