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Frequently Asked Questions
About Refugees
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Who are refugees?
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What is a refugee camp?
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How do refugees get to the United
States?
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How many refugees are there in the
world today?
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From which regions of the world do
refugees come?
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Where is Bridge’s office?
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How is Bridge supported financially?
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How are refugees supported
financially?
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Do refugees have access to health
services?
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Do refugees work?
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Do refugee children go to school?
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Do refugees learn English?
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What can I (or my church/community
group) do to help refugees?
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How can I donate money to Bridge?
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Can I meet refugees?
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Where do refugees live in Knoxville?
Who are refugees?
Refugees are people who have fled their
home countries to escape persecution. Following the
United Nations, the Office of Refugee Resettlement
defines a refugee as follows:
Any person who is outside any country of
such person's nationality or, in the case of a person
having no nationality, is outside any country in which
such person last habitually resided, and who is unable
or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to
avail himself or herself of the protection of, that
country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of
persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political
opinion.
For refugees, the stakes are high, and
options are few: flee or face the possibility of
imprisonment or, perhaps, even death.
Source:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/about/whoweserve.htm
What is a
refugee camp?
When refugees flee to neighboring
countries, they often live in refugee camps managed by
the United Nations. These communities provide some
safety and stability for the refugees until they are
able to return home or are granted permission to
resettle in another country, such as the United States.
How do refugees get to the United
States?
To be resettled in the United States,
refugees must apply for resettlement, complete required
paperwork, successfully pass the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services interview process, and be
granted refugee status. These steps are completed
overseas in the country to which the refugee has fled.
Source:
http://www.uscis.gov
How many refugees are there in
the world today?
The United Nations estimates that in 2008
there were more than 16 million refugees worldwide.
However, very few of these refugees eventually have the
opportunity to resettle to other parts of the world.
According to a global trends document published
by the United Nations, only 75,300 refugees resettled to
other countries in 2007.
Source:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11643.doc.htm
Source:
http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STATISTICS/4852366f2.pdf
2007 Global Trends
From which regions of the world do
refugees come?
In 2007, the greatest concentration of
refugees in the world came from Africa, Southeast Asia,
the Middle East and Colombia.
Since 1982, Bridge has resettled refugees
from Haiti, Sudan, Burma, Burundi, Colombia, Yemen,
Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia,
Vietnam, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Somalia, Cambodia,
Romania, Cuba, Kosovo, Croatia, Moldova, and other
countries.
Source:
http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STATISTICS/4852366f2.pdf
2007 Global Trends
Where is Bridge?
In Knoxville, Bridge is located inside
New Covenant Presbyterian Church, at 5520 Ball Camp
Pike. In 2008, New Covenant graciously donated space for
Bridge’s Knoxville office! We are very grateful to this
wonderful congregation. In addition, Bridge has a
sub-office in Chattanooga, where refugees are also
resettled.
How is Bridge supported financially?
Bridge is funded through the Tennessee
Office for Refugees, Church World Service, Episcopal
Migration Ministries, Community Shares, and a variety of
grants.
How are refugees supported
financially?
Bridge receives money from both Church
World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries to
provide services (e.g., housing, food) to refugees for a
limited period of time. Some refugees are also sponsored
by churches or other community organizations, and these
sponsors often assist refugees financially. However,
Bridge encourages all refugees to become financially
self-sufficient as quickly as they can after their
arrival in the United States. Bridge—and community
sponsors—assist them toward self-sufficiency by teaching
all refugees English, enrolling refugee children
in school, and helping refugee adults find employment.
Do refugees have access to health
services?
When they arrive in Knoxville, all
refugees receive vaccinations and health screenings
through the Knox County Health Department. Until they
are 18 years old, all refugee children are insured
through TennCare. For their first 8 months in the U.S.,
all refugee adults are insured through TennCare or a
private insurer. Also, refugee women who are pregnant
are always insured.
Currently, Bridge is looking for
additional healthcare providers for refugees. If you
know of a willing provider, please contact Bridge.
Do refugees work?
Yes, refugees arrive to the U.S.
fully-authorized to work. Refugees often work in
entry-level jobs, while others have professional
backgrounds in law, medicine, education, and other
fields.
Bridge is always looking for new job
opportunities for refugees. If you or someone you know
would consider hiring a refugee, please contact Bridge.
Do refugee children go to school?
Yes, refugee children attend a variety of
public schools in Knox County and in the Chattanooga
area.
Do refugees learn English?
Some refugees already know English when
they arrive in Knoxville. For refugees who speak little
or no English, Bridge provides English tutors and/or
enrolls them in English classes. Refugee children learn
English by attending public school here in Knox County.
What can I (or my church/community
group) do to help refugees?
There are a variety of ways you could
volunteer to help refugees. Through your church or
community group, you could also sponsor a refugee
family, which means that you befriend a family and
help them adjust to life in Knoxville during their
first, crucial months here. Bridge also accepts
donations of money or household items for refugees.
How can I donate money to Bridge?
For a list of ways to give, see our
donations section.
Can I provide household items for a
refugee family?
If you have furniture, other household
items, or clothing that might be useful to newly-arrived
refugees, please contact us at
bridgeref.donations@gmail.com.
Can I meet refugees?
By volunteering with Bridge or sponsoring
a refugee family, you can interact frequently with
refugees. See our volunteer and sponsorship
sections for additional details.
Where do refugees live?
Refugees live in homes and apartments
throughout Knoxville. Many refugees use public
transportation to access nearby grocery stores, banks,
schools, work sites, and other services.
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