Refugees in our community

Last Friday, Fishscale Girl and I visited the World Relief office. The people who work for World Relief and their many volunteers help refugees.

Beautiful African artwork, World Relief Office, Moline, Illinois

First, we asked who, exactly, is a refugee, and we learned this sad truth — refugees are people who leave their homeland because of persecution or great fear of persecution. They usually spend a long time (years, even!) in refugee camps and must prove to the United States government that persecution because of race, religion, or political opinions makes it impossible for them to go home again.

Refugees come from many countries

Refugees come from all over the world, and they go to many other countries, not just the United States.

World Relief sign, STAND for the Vulnerable

Then we learned that people in our community work together to welcome refugees; help them find a place to live, learn English, and get a job; help parents enroll their children in school; and help with all the paperwork that they must file. And they become life-long friends!

Fishscale Girl thinks about the earth and its people

We were so happy to visit this place in our community where refugees are so warmly welcomed. Are there refugees in your community? Who welcomes them?