Ashley Cecil

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7″ x 9″ watercolor
SOLD
See all artwork available for sale.

Per a request from a dear friend who works with refugees in Columbus, Ohio, I finished an earlier sketch of this image for World Refugee Day. But instead of reiterating what I had previously said, I asked her to share something with you about the clients she works closely with:

“Of the roughly 12 million refugees and asylees worldwide, less than 1% will ever be resettled to a permanent home outside of the refugee camp. Of those lucky few, the struggle changes from waiting in line for grain and water to waiting in line to enroll in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and apply for Social Security cards.

Successful acculturation training for new comers is vital to starting their new life in the US. From teaching which household cleaners are for dishes and which are for the floors, to demonstrating the use of a vacuum cleaner: dedicated volunteers are needed to help welcome and educate America’s newest immigrants. See Church World Service for ides of how you can help! (http://churchworldservice.com/opportunities.html)

For those left behind, safety and security are of utmost concern. One concern of refugee women is the unsafe land just beyond the camp perimeter. While collecting firewood, young girls are vulnerable to soldiers and locals who take the opportunity to rape those who are unaccompanied. In response to this issue of security, Solar Cookers International (http://solarcookers.org/about/programs/dadaab.html) has sought a unique solution to reduce the time spent searching for fuel.”

Colleen Rosshirt
Community Refugee and Immigration Services
www.cris-ohio.com

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