After receiving our suitcases, we have put on a new set of clothes for the first time in 7 days (cue the girl from the Ring). At present, we are preparing for the influx of refugees. In addition to the administrative work that must be done; calls to Geneva, conversations with various embassies and finalizing the budget, travel documents must be processed.
Often as a refugee, legal passports have never been processed. In Eritrea for example, unless one has served their mandatory military term, they can not receive their travel documents. This military commitment, which is supposed to last 6-months often exceeds 3 years, is done under terrible conditions; beatings, little food and with minor remittances. One of the main sources of refugee generation from Eritrea are those avoiding this harsh commitment. Women with children are typically not granted passports.
This creates a bit of a problem, especially in the post 9/11 travel world. It is often difficult to procure birth dates, and other pertinent information such as country of origin. Because again, given in a country like Eritrea, the boarders are constantly changing. Refugees working with the UNHCR are given a refugee certificate and this then becomes their main source of identification. Now they are ready to travel. Assuming that they pass the medical health checks, security screenings and are physically able to leave the camps or prisons they are waiting in.
The additional preparations at the camp include bed prepping, retrieving of clothes and shoes — most of those arriving have nothing and shifting the security precautions. Yesterday was the calm before the storm, today the energy within the camp is pouring down like the rain that greeted us when we woke.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Empathy
Yesterday, we thought there would be no refugees in our camp until next week sometime. Today during our meeting, our group was informed that UNHCR had received a list of 31 names that are currently en route to our the ETC.
The changes seem to occur so rapidly, especially given the current climate of the countries experiencing conflict. I can only imagine how unsettling this must be for those traveling as refugees. To not know where you are going, to not understand how you will get there until just before the change happens if at all, would be beyond stressful.
Yet, this is the life experience refugees gain in transit. We spoke today of empathy and how it is critical to have this quality when working with the UN. I feel that this trait is often lacking in my home country of America. Perhaps we can all try a little harder to put ourselves in the shoes of others as we tread through life.
The changes seem to occur so rapidly, especially given the current climate of the countries experiencing conflict. I can only imagine how unsettling this must be for those traveling as refugees. To not know where you are going, to not understand how you will get there until just before the change happens if at all, would be beyond stressful.
Yet, this is the life experience refugees gain in transit. We spoke today of empathy and how it is critical to have this quality when working with the UN. I feel that this trait is often lacking in my home country of America. Perhaps we can all try a little harder to put ourselves in the shoes of others as we tread through life.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Romania first 3 days: Abridged
After 22 hours of flying, lost luggage and 5 hour bus ride from Budapest, Hungary to Romania, we arrived at our destination of Timisaora, Romania on Thursday night the 1st of April. No Joke. After a fabulous dinner and filling dinner with UNHCR Officer, Marie Wilson, our small group slept like hybernating bears.
When we woke we were met with a beautiful spring day as we headed over to Generatie Tanera Romania (GTR). GTR is one of the NGOs we will be working with. The GTR team, led by the fearless Mariana, is a fine tuned machine of volunteers from all over the world united in the fight agains sex trafficking.
Mariana gave us a detailed and engaging meeting over coffee, invited us for dinner and sent us to the the Emergency Transit Center (ETC), where we met Marie and toured the camp. At present there are no refugees in residence, as they have just left for their respective host countries. Next week however, they are expecting a major influx of refugees.
When we finished at the camp, we returned home and got ready for dinner. One of the benefits of having no suitcase is it really takes the guess work out of what to wear. The folks at GTR prepared a fabulous and filling dinner of stuffed mushrooms, cheese, breaded veal, legume bean soup (my new favorite) and other traditional Romanian foods. Some of the guests included asylum seekers from Tunisia and Algeria. Their contributions to the evening's conversations were beyond enlightening. Our group was struck by the fact none of the asylum seekers wanted sympathy or money. They just waned safety and ultimately their basic human rights. The sub-human conditions those seeking democracy are often subjected to are staggering; prisons, starvation, rats, beatings, and false mental analysis (in some cases they were accused of being terrorists). The "issues" in the Northern African and the Middle Eastern countries are not minor conflicts that happen to appear in the news. Their problems are global. They need to be viewed as "our problems" because they will continue to affect us in the west on an increasing scale.
My thoughts so far are overwhelming and busy, but all of them remind me that I am connected to each of these problems as I am connected to you back home. Perhaps I am what bridges you to Cristina who was sold by her family in to the sex trade at the age of 9. Last night I shared dinner with a man from Tunisia who had to leave his country and family to because he wanted the right to vote. My hope is to bring people together so that we share the same problems and ultmately the same solutions.
Here is the website if you want to check out GTC and more of what they do: http://www.generatietanara.ro/
When we woke we were met with a beautiful spring day as we headed over to Generatie Tanera Romania (GTR). GTR is one of the NGOs we will be working with. The GTR team, led by the fearless Mariana, is a fine tuned machine of volunteers from all over the world united in the fight agains sex trafficking.
Mariana gave us a detailed and engaging meeting over coffee, invited us for dinner and sent us to the the Emergency Transit Center (ETC), where we met Marie and toured the camp. At present there are no refugees in residence, as they have just left for their respective host countries. Next week however, they are expecting a major influx of refugees.
When we finished at the camp, we returned home and got ready for dinner. One of the benefits of having no suitcase is it really takes the guess work out of what to wear. The folks at GTR prepared a fabulous and filling dinner of stuffed mushrooms, cheese, breaded veal, legume bean soup (my new favorite) and other traditional Romanian foods. Some of the guests included asylum seekers from Tunisia and Algeria. Their contributions to the evening's conversations were beyond enlightening. Our group was struck by the fact none of the asylum seekers wanted sympathy or money. They just waned safety and ultimately their basic human rights. The sub-human conditions those seeking democracy are often subjected to are staggering; prisons, starvation, rats, beatings, and false mental analysis (in some cases they were accused of being terrorists). The "issues" in the Northern African and the Middle Eastern countries are not minor conflicts that happen to appear in the news. Their problems are global. They need to be viewed as "our problems" because they will continue to affect us in the west on an increasing scale.
My thoughts so far are overwhelming and busy, but all of them remind me that I am connected to each of these problems as I am connected to you back home. Perhaps I am what bridges you to Cristina who was sold by her family in to the sex trade at the age of 9. Last night I shared dinner with a man from Tunisia who had to leave his country and family to because he wanted the right to vote. My hope is to bring people together so that we share the same problems and ultmately the same solutions.
Here is the website if you want to check out GTC and more of what they do: http://www.generatietanara.ro/
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cup Half Full
Dr. Popa, our fearless leader, asked if we would be willing to commit to a 36-hour fast. People fast for many reasons; spiritual, health, challenge, or cleansing just to name a few. Our group thought it would be an appropriate opportunity to become more introspective, and focus our minds on the work we will be setting out to do tomorrow. I have been known to fast and detox from time to time, so I readily agreed. I suggested a more meaningful goal of giving up something that would truly be a challenge. Our group decided technology and food woul be enough of a challenge. I personally felt this would be a little challenging but nothing to drastic. I kept my mind open to finding something else more challenging to give up.
I thought about it. Nothing really perked my interest until the first full morning of the full day without food. I woke up and went to make coffee and realized in order to be transparent in my commitment, coffee would have to go. If you don't know me personally you should know, I love coffee. As in lurve it. So, with my bean grinder in one hand and fresh Thomas Hammer La Revolution beans in the other I sighed and put them away and reached for yet another glass of distilled water.
I drank it.
Nowhere even close to the satisfaction I get from a cup of coffee.
As the day progressed, I was hungry, but didn't find it to distracting. What was distracting, however was how incomplete I felt without my joe.
I decided to start packing. When I took a step back to take in my suitcase and all I had put in, I realized there are many things in my life I feel complete me almost to the point where they have their own person just like my darling Joe; Chuck Taylor, Oliver Peoples, my books, etc. I am not by any stretch a walking bill board. However, I can't think of anything off the top of my head that I need. Want yes, but even that list is not long.
Today was the end of our 36-hours. When I woke up this morning I drank yet another big glass of distilled water ate a piece of fruit and went to yoga. After my yoga class, I didn't have my coffee. I am waiting one more day, because I know I will appreciate it that much more. Going without, gives us time to appreciate what we take for granted. But, it is clear to me that regardless of whether I have a cup or three cups of coffee or none at all, my cup is half full.
I drank it.
Nowhere even close to the satisfaction I get from a cup of coffee.
As the day progressed, I was hungry, but didn't find it to distracting. What was distracting, however was how incomplete I felt without my joe.
I decided to start packing. When I took a step back to take in my suitcase and all I had put in, I realized there are many things in my life I feel complete me almost to the point where they have their own person just like my darling Joe; Chuck Taylor, Oliver Peoples, my books, etc. I am not by any stretch a walking bill board. However, I can't think of anything off the top of my head that I need. Want yes, but even that list is not long.
Today was the end of our 36-hours. When I woke up this morning I drank yet another big glass of distilled water ate a piece of fruit and went to yoga. After my yoga class, I didn't have my coffee. I am waiting one more day, because I know I will appreciate it that much more. Going without, gives us time to appreciate what we take for granted. But, it is clear to me that regardless of whether I have a cup or three cups of coffee or none at all, my cup is half full.
Friday, March 25, 2011
What is a Refugee?
Not to long ago, I thought I had a handle on what it means to be a refugee. However, since joining in this journey the form of my understanding has been carved into a clearer definition.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines refugee as: People who have fled their countries due to fear of persecution, having crossed an international boarder. At present there are at least 42 million people uprooted by conflict.
Another group that should be introduced are the Internally Displaced People (IDPs). That is to say they are uprooted but in their own country. While they are often called refugees, they don’t fit the original definition of what it means to be a refugee.
The UNHCR defines IDPs as someone who is forced to leave their home but remains within their borders. This group makes up nearly two-thirds of the entire population of displaced people seeking asylum. IDPs populations could be found in countries such as Sudan, Columbia, Iraq etc.
As we move forward, we hope to give you a clearer picture of who these people are on a micro level. All of these people have names and their own story. The sea of 42 million+ might cause the eyes to gloss over and our goal in this accompaniment is to bridge the gap between definitions and statistics.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines refugee as: People who have fled their countries due to fear of persecution, having crossed an international boarder. At present there are at least 42 million people uprooted by conflict.
Another group that should be introduced are the Internally Displaced People (IDPs). That is to say they are uprooted but in their own country. While they are often called refugees, they don’t fit the original definition of what it means to be a refugee.
The UNHCR defines IDPs as someone who is forced to leave their home but remains within their borders. This group makes up nearly two-thirds of the entire population of displaced people seeking asylum. IDPs populations could be found in countries such as Sudan, Columbia, Iraq etc.
As we move forward, we hope to give you a clearer picture of who these people are on a micro level. All of these people have names and their own story. The sea of 42 million+ might cause the eyes to gloss over and our goal in this accompaniment is to bridge the gap between definitions and statistics.
Monday, March 14, 2011
History Repeating: Current Parallels
In December of 2010, the world watched Tunisia bravely united, lighting the spark of revolution. By January 2011, Tunisia's longtime President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, had been ousted. The flame of revolution spread to Egypt, swiftly igniting a fire so hot and strong in the hearts of of the Egyptian people protesters camped for 18 days in Cairo's Tahir Square as President Hosni Mubarak played an emotional game of chess with his country, ending with Mubarak in checkmate and a jubilant and free Egypt. One by one, like dominoes, countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East joined together in protests and acts of civil disobedience to try their luck in the game of democracy.
What is amazing is that on December 16th 1989, the same hunger for freedom, the same passion, and yearning for basic human rights being witnessed in the current uprisings, took place almost exactly 12 years ago in Timisoara, Romania. The Romanian Revolution violently claimed over 1,000 lives. It will be very interesting to be in Romania, while events that shaped the country are unfolding in the Middle East.
Of particular note, we are in a similar situation play out in Libya. As history is being written and the quest for democracy continues, it is paramount, we as humans learn from our mistakes and take the time to remember the darker tones of the human story.
What is amazing is that on December 16th 1989, the same hunger for freedom, the same passion, and yearning for basic human rights being witnessed in the current uprisings, took place almost exactly 12 years ago in Timisoara, Romania. The Romanian Revolution violently claimed over 1,000 lives. It will be very interesting to be in Romania, while events that shaped the country are unfolding in the Middle East.
Of particular note, we are in a similar situation play out in Libya. As history is being written and the quest for democracy continues, it is paramount, we as humans learn from our mistakes and take the time to remember the darker tones of the human story.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Come along and take that Ride
The voice of David Byrne from the talking heads has been bouncing between my ears. "We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside" except that we are going somewhere. In 23 days we will leave for leave for Timisoara, Romania. I am honored, excited, nervous, inspired, humbled and (insert adjective here) to be part of the pilot graduate course from Gonzaga's Leadership Accompaniment course in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Timisoara, Romania.
We will spend four weeks accompanying refugees at the UN Emergency Transit Center (ETC). In as much as we will accompany the refugees in their transition into a new culture, they will accompany us in our journey towards understanding and empathy. Katherine Miller says there are times when worlds connect or collide and we are given the opportunity to understand another's construction or perhaps to change our own (as cited in Shepherd, St. John & Striphas 2006:36), and this is one of those times.
The Objectives for the course are
"There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride." I invite you to jump beyond your everyday routine and dig the world. This is your formal invitation to join in our quest for accompaniment so that in some way we may share in your journey because, "it's alright, baby it's alright."
We will spend four weeks accompanying refugees at the UN Emergency Transit Center (ETC). In as much as we will accompany the refugees in their transition into a new culture, they will accompany us in our journey towards understanding and empathy. Katherine Miller says there are times when worlds connect or collide and we are given the opportunity to understand another's construction or perhaps to change our own (as cited in Shepherd, St. John & Striphas 2006:36), and this is one of those times.
The Objectives for the course are
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning about the current refugee population in our own community
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for learning through ethnographic accompaniment and dialogue
- Develop knowledge of strategies for rapid needs assessment as a methodical process for field study and investigation
- Develop knowledge of and strategies for applying ethnographic principles of observation, interviews, and accompaniment with UN staff and refugees to learn about refugee hardiness and resiliency
- Develop understanding and appreciation of host country from local civic leaders, students, and university faculty
- Develop knowledge and strategies for thinking creatively about the role of leadership and communication practices with humanitarian organizations and local refugee organizations
"There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride." I invite you to jump beyond your everyday routine and dig the world. This is your formal invitation to join in our quest for accompaniment so that in some way we may share in your journey because, "it's alright, baby it's alright."
References:
Shepherd G. J., St. John, J., Striphas, T. (2006). Communication as . . . Perspectives on theory.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Talking Heads (1985). Road to nowhere on Little Creatures [CD] New York: Sire Sound (1985).
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