welcome welcome home: April 2012

Hi jay,

Here’s what’s been happening around here the past couple weeks.

Sincerely,

-Daniel

Daniel Wordsworth, President

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*South Sudan Grants*

The United Nations’ Common Humanitarian Fund recently awarded our South Sudan team two important grants to help about 400,000 people.

We will be working to help victims of sexual and domestic violence in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile. The project will address violence against women: supporting emergency response, capacity building for local responders, a safe house for case management and referral, and peer education on the issue.
And we will screen and treat children under five and pregnant and lactating mothers for malnutrition in Kapoeta East and South. The team will work in partnership with existing primary health centers and health units to implement the project, conducting health education and providing outpatient/inpatient services.

*Photography Exhibition*

We were proud to help promote the work of Minneapolis-based Somali-American photographer, Mohamud Mumin. His exhibit, entitled “The Youth//Dhalinyarada,” profiled 13 young Somali men living in the U.S., highlighting the contribution these men are making to their adopted homeland. The subjects shared the conflict they feel in just trying to be themselves, and how, as much as they might try to engage in their community, they often feel foreign.

One of the subjects reported: “I believe [these photographs] are shifting away from being a refugee, being an immigrant, and moving toward shining a light on young Somali men that are doing something for the community, for the world, for themselves.” Another said, “I think the Somali community is going to look at all these photos and be like, ‘We are so proud of them. They are our brothers. They are our sons. They are our family, and this is our community.’” Here are links to a story about and photos from the exhibition.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/29/somali-portraits/

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/27/minnesota-mix-photographer-mohamud-mumin/

*Income Generation in Rwanda*

In Gihembe and Nyabiheke camps in Rwanda, refugees are learning skills and earning money. In Gihembe Camp, more than 660 vulnerable refugees – including school dropouts, widows, and the elderly – are being trained in new skills and receiving materials for embroidery, sewing, carpentry, electrical installation, drawing, hairdressing and music. The refugees trained in tailoring recently produced 70 uniforms for the Gihembe medical staff. Refugee youth trained in music have formed bands that perform at events in the camp and broadcast their own songs on the local radio.

*Giving*

At the request of readers, I always include these links so they’re easy to find when you need them. Thanks so much.

Donate online: http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate

Become a monthly donor: http://www.ARCrelief.org/givemonthly

Give Us a Call: (800) 875-7060

Send in a gift:

American Refugee Committee
Donor Service Center
P.O. Box 1002
Minneapolis, MN 55480-1002 USA