What is What is The Refugee The Refugee ExperienceExperience

RefugeesRefugees

Refugee: one outside his/her Refugee: one outside his/her country, unable to return, due country, unable to return, due to well-founded fear of to well-founded fear of violence, injury, torture, death violence, injury, torture, death … …because of social group, … …because of social group, race, religion, nationality, race, religion, nationality, political opinion or political opinion or environmental disasterenvironmental disaster

23 Million in 23 Million in 2005 2005

42 Million in 42 Million in 2009 2009

Half are Half are ChildrenChildren

EscaEscapepe

““Night runs across borders Night runs across borders unknown… unknown…

From violence to shark-infested From violence to shark-infested waters…waters…

……to arrival into to arrival into unfamiliar lands”unfamiliar lands”

What the Experts What the Experts SaySay

• Leaving behind all familiar and Leaving behind all familiar and knownknown

• Confused, frightened, Confused, frightened, overwhelmedoverwhelmed

• Creates medical and Creates medical and psychological issuespsychological issues

• Fear of government and social Fear of government and social agenciesagencies

• Little or no formal schoolingLittle or no formal schooling• Language difficultiesLanguage difficulties• NOTHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE NOTHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE

since the “HOLOCAUST” since the “HOLOCAUST”

Survivors Survivors of Torture & of Torture &

TraumaTrauma ending up in “… dangerous, ending up in “… dangerous, crowded camps of despair and crowded camps of despair and hopelessness…hopelessness…

with physical & psychological with physical & psychological traumas of war, torture, traumas of war, torture, disappearance or death of family disappearance or death of family members and friends…”members and friends…”

Syrian refugee boy at refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border March 25, 2012

Life in a Refugee CampLife in a Refugee Camp

• https://www.youtube.com/embed/aVGTb4gtJTU

Coming to America Coming to America Wanting A Safe, New Start Wanting A Safe, New Start

In New In New HampshireHampshire

• In 2005, approximately In 2005, approximately 72,000 foreign-born 72,000 foreign-born persons out of 1,309,940  persons out of 1,309,940  total (18%)total (18%)

• Over 5,000 refugees Over 5,000 refugees resettled since 1997resettled since 1997

• Over 10 % of population Over 10 % of population refugees and immigrantsrefugees and immigrants

• Over 64 different Over 64 different languages spoken languages spoken

Young People Believe in a Young People Believe in a Better Tomorrow Better Tomorrow

Why WITH OPEN MINDS Why WITH OPEN MINDS

• Refugees & immigrants want to have American Refugees & immigrants want to have American friendsfriends

• Isolated and separated not knowing American Isolated and separated not knowing American culture culture

• Americans need to learn other cultures Americans need to learn other cultures because our country is getting more diversebecause our country is getting more diverse

What WITH OPEN MINDS What WITH OPEN MINDS DoesDoes

• Prevents acts of Prevents acts of hate and violencehate and violence

• Teaches positive Teaches positive methods of dealing methods of dealing with conflict, such with conflict, such as racism and as racism and religious religious persecutionpersecution

• Facilitates Facilitates meaningful, meaningful, intercultural intercultural friendshipsfriendships

How WITH OPEN MINDS How WITH OPEN MINDS does itdoes it

• Caring, Honest Communication  Caring, Honest Communication  • Respect and AffirmationRespect and Affirmation• Understanding through ConnectionsUnderstanding through Connections• Discovery through FunDiscovery through Fun• Leaders as Role Models for Leaders as Role Models for

DiversityDiversity• Advocating Peace and HarmonyAdvocating Peace and Harmony

WITH OPEN MINDSWITH OPEN MINDSYear-RoundYear-Round

WITH OPEN WITH OPEN MINDSMINDS

Prepares strong, compassionate leaders, Prepares strong, compassionate leaders, comfortable in a multicultural society who comfortable in a multicultural society who respect and honor diversity. respect and honor diversity.

Changing the world in Changing the world in NHNH

Over 45 countries have been represented

http://www.withopenminds.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB3fUgtbLjY