WHO IS A REFUGEE?
According to the 1951 Geneva Convention, a refugee is a person who has fled his country “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” He or she cannot or will not return because her government cannot or will not protect her. The United Nations works in conjunction with national governments to find recipient nations for these individuals. The United States accepts thousands of refugees every year from around the world. Refugees are invited guests of the United States. They are legal residents and should be able to enjoy all privileges of their status.
For more information about refugees, please visit these helpful links:
WHO IS AN SIV?
The U.S. State Department’s “Special Immigrant Visa” program is designed for the brave men (and some women) who provided critical support to U.S. military forces during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Immigrants who arrive under this program are referred to as “SIVs,” and they (like refugees) must endure a lengthy and thorough vetting process prior to entry in the United States. Because of their commitment to the U.S. in Afghanistan/Iraq war zones, SIV neighbors and their families are not safe in their native country. Though deserving of the same honor and respect bestowed upon U.S. soldiers, SIVs are often the recipients of overt racism and harassment in Charlottesville.
Despite promises made to them by the United States, only a small percentage of SIVs have been granted entry to the land they fought to protect. There are over 200 of these brave Afghan and Iraqi natives who live as our neighbors in Charlottesville, VA. Though grateful and fortunate to be here, most find themselves living in poverty and struggling to pursue their American Dream.
For more information about SIVs, please visit these helpful links:
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
Abdul Parwez hadn’t seen his parents in seven years. The only son of Abdul and Bibi, he served with the US Army as a translator before moving to the United…
Read More…Fariha brings cakes and tea to the table of her two-bedroom apartment. Her children gather close to their mother. Mariam is going on a class field trip to the Jamestown…
Read More…Hajer Salaam is all smiles with a bright voice and cheery disposition who wears a long braid, pink hair bow and polka dot tights on the day we meet. A…
Read More…Meet Elias, you can learn a little bit about him here | Password: lighthouse You can learn a LOT about him if you choose to apply as a volunteer with us! He is a…
Read More…Meet Fatou, a survivor from Gambia. She was referred to us leaving the Shelter For Help IN Emergency (SHE) which is a great resource but has a 6 week stay…
Read More…Bhutanese refugees who spent a decade in Nepal, the Rai family has been in Charlottesville, VA since 2012. On the anniversary of her fifth year in the country, Chandra earned…
Read More…Yahya and Siba fled Syria in 2013, with their infant daughter. They lived in Jordan for 3 years, awaiting refugee resettlement status and welcoming a son. Now, the family of…
Read More…KNOW OUR VOLUNTEERS
Lieutenant Colonel Tim Leroux, a 20-year Army veteran, says he worked with many interpreters during his time in Iraq. “We couldn’t have done a thing without them,” he says. In 2015, he…
Read More…Debra Weiss has lived in Charlottesville for nearly thirty years. She owns the Recycled House, a homestay property in a North Downtown neighborhood that is constructed primarily from second-hand materials.…
Read More…Emily and David Leblang are the the curtain installation duo. They’ve been volunteers since 2016 and have installed 35 curtains in 30 different houses around the windows, but also as…
Read More…Cathy and her family decided to find out what they could do to support refugees in our community because of the many conversations they were having at the dinner table…
Read More…Mil Bailey has invested over 100 hours with IN! Whether taking shoppers to EE or dancers to CBA. Mil always does so with a smile. A world traveler, Mil appreciates…
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