There ‘s a lot of work to do with the start of this Not-for-Profit Organization, Asha’s Refuge. I’ve still been working on finalizing a logo. There are video’s and brochures to make, signage, flyers, training manuals and you name it. The problem is, there is also a lot of work to be done face to face with my refugee friends. It’s hard to do all the paperwork necessary and also keep up the relationships with my friends. I enjoy more my friend time and therefore, paperwork can sometimes take a back seat. Asha’s Refuge is pressing onward in an effort to pull the organization more and more together, but we are also enjoying meeting regularly with our friends. Balancing the two can be difficult.

Yesterday, I got to experience the Food Stamp Office of Memphis, TN. It seems there are many people in need of food assistance this time of year. Inside the building, there were over 250 people all sitting in small chairs spread out in this gigantic room that was much like a warehouse or gymnasium. There were only about 8 of the 15 desks operating to help each client. It was difficult to figure out the system and some of the employees seemed upset to have to be at work. In fact the lady in charge of the desk we were required to wait in front of seemed to be annoyed by our presence as she sighed, mumbled, pecked on her computer and refused to smile or make eye contact with us. This type of poor communication with my refugee friends only confuses them, makes them feel less than, frightens them and causes them to think that they are doing something incorrect. It makes me sad for my friends when they receive this kind of welcome to America.

Soon after I arrived to help one friend another friend had already been sitting and waiting for three hours to meet with her case worker. I decided to inquire about her wait for her and we found out that she had never signed in. So often non-english speaking refugees get caught in a system that is not very friendly to them. Again, I was sad for my friend.

What is even sadder is that so often my refugee friends whether the rain, cold/heat or snow via bus and travel by foot to arrive to offices of assistance. They typically have had to do without, research for several days what to do and then finally make their way to someone for help. They have little to no money for bus transportation. They often have no one to care for their preschoolers while they run errands. Some of my friends are disabled or have children that are disabled. Some are older and fragile. It just isn’t an easy process for them.

Asha’s Refuge tries to help refugees sort through mishaps with the programs and government organizations that they are receiving help from. We make phone calls trying to settle a problem without having to transport our friends and wait in long lines but so often our phone calls are not answered and voice mails are not returned. I suppose the workers are overwhelmed with their clients and have no time to answer the phone. It frustrates me trying to help them and I’m an American that speaks English so I’m certain that it frustrates my friends. I try to defend America by uplifting our government workers to my refugee friends but sometimes that is so challenging for me. Refugees are already struggling to figure out how to survive and successfully resettle in America, must they also have to try to learn all the odd social cues from some unhappy American employee with poor work ethics that thrive on making others feel less than? It is just sad to me that my friends must experience so much additional unnecessary pressures and difficulty.