So often it seems, skilled and talented refugees find themselves working in dead end jobs that bring them little to no satisfaction in life.  For example, there was a gentleman who went to school in Haiti to be a lawyer and was a successful one.  In America having no American education or ability to speak English he is cleaning rooms. In his desperate need for immediate work he must resort to doing something daily that he quite possibly dreads.  I know of a fisherman who now washes dishes every day.  I heard about a veterinarian from from Nepal who is now making boxes on an assembly line.  I know an older gentleman from Nepal also who made furniture in his country.  With no tools and a place to continue his hobby, I have yet to see just how gifted of a carpenter he is.  I witness so many of the clients we serve push all pride aside and to do whatever is necessary to provide and take care of themselves and their family.  I think it is the same thing most would do if they were faced with the crisis situations many refugee families are faced with.  What if we were able to show even more compassion to those we serve by more carefully interviewing them to better understand who they are, what their skills and abilities are and what their hearts desires were? How would it impact those we serve and our community overall?

Asha’s Refuge “We Care” Project:

Asha’s Refuge seeks to assist Memphis area refugees not only to successfully resettle but thrive with a hope-filled joy that often comes with finding a place in life where one can naturally give back to the society in which they live.  We believe that all people were created equally but given different life experiences, talents and other skills by God.  

Asha’s Refuge desires to understand better who our clients are to improve the way new comers are placed into jobs and assist them with living life in what we call “the sweet spot”. Living life in “the sweet spot” to us means, finding ones purpose in life, having the ability to embrace it and live it out in a way that it positively affects not only that persons emotional and spiritual wellbeing, but society as a whole. Asha’s Refuge believes that refugees could play an important role naturally bringing people together in a way that will help citizens cross racial, social and cultural misunderstandings that hurts our world today.  

The purpose of this project and interview is to take the time with our clients to learn more about them so that we can:  

1. Show compassion and love to our clients. “We care about you, who you are and are interested in what
God has been doing and is currently doing in your life.”

2. Encourage positive social change in the way refugees are often labeled.

3. Place clients in to jobs that are better suited to their personality, talents and skills.

4. Understand better the needs of our clients and how we might be able to help.

5. Provide a place where refugees can have a voice. 

Last week, we interviewed our first client.  Gaspard.  Gaspard was a happy farmer who milked cows and took care of farmland in the Congo.  His work included some agricultural duties as well.  His “sweet spot” would be back on a farm doing something similar.  

After the interview, we called a local farmer, Jone’s Orchard to see if they could help.  Mr. Henry Jones was happy to help!  In fact, he invited us to bring a group of refugee clients to help him out on the farm.  God is good!  
Yesterday we picked fresh strawberries and weeded them.  We will take some happy clients again today to work again on the orchard. Project “We Care” is already a success!!  Thank you Jone’s Orchard for making our clients day.