Cultural Orientation

Dadaab Refugee CampsDadaab, Kenya

Robinson Cook

In January of 2009, I spent one week observing the cultural orientation classes for refugees in Dadaab Kenya before their resettlement to the United States. This presentation only represents what I experienced along the way. I simply recorded and photographed what I saw, heard and touched. I am now sharing it with friends and colleagues to help unhinge the misperceptions people have about refugees who come from East Africa and in particular, Somalia. In the end I hope anyone who views this presentation can appreciate what refugees have gone through just to come to the U.S.. I hope you share in the hopes and dreams of your future neighbors, co-workers, and friends.

What Do You Know About Somalia?

What Do You Know About The Dadaab Refugee Camps?

1960 – Somali independence from Italy and merger with British Somaliland

1960 - Adan Adulle Osman elected as President

1967 - Abdirashid Ali Sharmaarke elected as 2nd president and

1969 - Abdirashid Ali Sharmaarke assassinated by his bodyguard in 1969.

1969 - General Mohamed Said Barre took over during a bloodless coup.

History

Mogadishu

Conflict In Somalia

Taxi that runs between the refugee camps.

1991 - Said Barre was ousted by a Northern and Southern clan based force called the USC lead by Military leader General Mohamed Farah AIdid and Abdirahman Tura

1996 - Mohamed Farrah Aidid was killed in Mogadishu.

Since 1991 there have been fourteen efforts at national reconciliation.

2009 - Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed elected President

The basis of most of the conflicts was clan allegiances and competition for resources between the warring clans.

Some recent major players in Somalia include:• Islamic Courts Union (ICU)• Al Shabaab• U.S. Backed Ethiopian Forces• Puntland Regional Authority• Republic of Somaliland• Transitional Federal Government• 2009 - Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed - President

The civil war disrupted agriculture and food distribution in southern Somalia.

Today

People and Culture

• Ethnicities - Somali 85%, Bantu and other

non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

• Religion – Primarily Sunni Muslim

• Languages – Somali (official), Arab, English, Italian.

• Natural Resources - Uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Somali Refugee entering UNHCR Compound for her initial resettlement interview

• Ifo

• Hagadera

• Dagahaley

were built in 1991 to host 90,000 refugees. Today, The camps cover a total area of 50 square km and are within an 18 km radius of one another to host more than 230,000 refugees.

The Three Dadaab Refugee Camps

Marquee at the entrance to IFO refugee camp

Somali Ethiopian Congolese

Eritrean Sudanese

Dadaab Ethnic Groups

Retelling of persecution story by Somali refugee.

•The continuing conflict in Somalia has led to a steady inflow of refugees over the subsequent years with no sign of easing up.

•More than 60,000 Somalis crossed into Kenya in 2008.

•Most come from Mogadishu and the Lower Juba regions of Kismayo, Jamame and Afmadow.

•Dadaab is also a division in the Garissa District, which suffered a severe drought for almost four years.

•Dadaab is approximately 40 kilometers (26 miles) from the Somali

border.

Dadaab

Landscapes

Dry landscape in the Garissa district of Kenya.

Landscapes

1. UNHCR - Referral and case creation2. OPE - Pre-screen & case verification 3. USCIS - Resettlement interview & decision4. IOM - Medical examination 5. OPE - Cultural orientation6. IOM - Travel to U.S. 5 ports of entry7. Voluntary Agency - Resettlement in U.S.

Refugee Timeline

Individuals being interviewed by JVA Kenya

UNHCR Morning role call – Hagadera.

UNHCR – United Nations High Commission for Refugees. • Individuals • Large groups of compelling concern: The Lost Boys of

Sudan.

NGO (Non-Government Organization)

U.S. Embassy

A family member in the U.S. • Affidavit of Relationship (AOR)• Visa 92/93

1. Referral from one of the following:

UNHCR case creation.

• United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Pre-screen

• Biographical Data

• Form Fill

• Persecution Story

• Refugee referred to U.S. Overseas Processing Entity (OPE)

2. Case Creation

JVA Kenya morning role call.

Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) – JVA Kenya

• Pre-screen• Form Fill• Persecution Story• Refugee Referred to USCIS

• *They are verifying all of the data presented by the referring agency, qualifying the refugee and clarifying any gaps in the persecution story.

3. Pre-Screen

Refugee interview area.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

USCIS Interviews refugee and takes one of the following actions:– Approves case for resettlement

– Denies case for resettlement

– Puts case on hold or pending

4. USCIS Interview

International Organization for Migration (IOM)• Medical examinations• X-Rays• Vaccinations/Immunizations• Preparations for travel logistics to U.S.

5. Medical Examinations

IOM medical examination area

Cultural Orientation class.

Joint Voluntary Agency (JVA) Kenya • Cultural Orientation to those refugees coming to the U.S.• U.S. culture, people, government and history• Values and beliefs• Travel to U.S. • Info on resettlement agencies and community services in the U.S.

6. Cultural Orientation

International Organization for Migration (IOM)• Transportation to transit center• Airport check-in• Flight to U.S. • Accompany refugee to 5 ports of entry: New York, Newark,

Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles and to connecting flight for final destination.

Refugees on their way to transit center in Nairobi.

7. Travel to the U.S.

JVA Kenya Cultural Orientation Staff - Nairobi Kenya

• 18-30 Class size• 3 Days long• 6 hours of instruction per day• 1 trainer per class• Coordination with UNHCR, IOM, JVA Operations

and USCIS• Curriculum developed with the Center for

Applied Linguistics (CAL)

Quick Facts About Cultural Orientation

Cultural orientation class in IFO

Cultural Orientation trainers meet before traveling to Dadaab.

• What is the purpose of cultural orientation for refugees in the United States? To prepare for life in the U.S. and help minimize culture shock.

• Who funds U.S. Cultural Orientation? The U.S. State Department. In East Africa, cultural orientation is carried out by the Joint Voluntary Agency (Overseas Processing Entity).

• When is Cultural Orientation provided? After Refugees have been approved for resettlement to the U.S. by The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

About Cultural Orientation

CO trainers preparing for the first day of class tomorrow

CO trainers meet with locally hired interpreters to go over the lesson plan.

• United States Overview • Resettlement Agency• Community Services • Housing• Employment• Financial Literacy• Transportation• Education• Health• Cultural Adjustment• Travel• Rights and Responsibilities• U.S. Law

Topics Addressed in Cultural Orientation

A sign leading to the classrooms in the refugee camp.

Amina – Cultural Orientation morning role call.

Amina – Cultural Orientation morning role call.

Cultural Orientation class list.

“What do you know about the U.S.?”

“What do you fear about the U.S. ?”

1. Not getting there (the plane has problems)

2. Gangs

3. Not Getting Jobs

4. The whites taking family members

5. Dogs guard old people; if they leave the old people get lost (reference to seeing eye dogs)

Amina explains how transportation operates in America

Amina explaining the difference between the public and private health care systems.

Amina stops the video to explain that you actually sit on a toilet as opposed to squatting.

Jeff explains the different types of financial assistance available to refugees.

Jeff explains the tenant landlord relationship.

Refugees in cultural orientation class in IFO.

Refugees asking questions about the housing video they just watched.

Visual aids to help explain civil rights, American history, money and identifications.

Refugees learning about travel to the U.S.

Cultural Orientation Discussion About Child Support

Question: What are the good things about Somali culture?

Question: What are the not so good things about Somali culture?

Question: What is good and not so good about Ethiopian (Anywok) culture?

Good:

1. Marry one woman

2. Traditional dance

3. Men and women are equal and they love each other

4. Men and women eat together

Not so good:

1. If you marry and you don’t have the money, the father-in-law will beat you

2. We knock out the women’s bottom six teeth

3. Biting people is not good

Answer: Here are the good things

about our culture.

1. We greet strangers when they come to our home.

2. Somali’s slaughter an animal for a visitor

3. Respect for old people

4. Respect between man and woman

5. Help the disabled and needy

6. Respect between parents and children

7. Respect neighbors rights and rights between neighbors

8. Intermarriage within Somali community brings people together

9. In Somali culture men have their dress and women have theirs

10. There is equality among Somali men

11. There is only one religion

12. Somali’s don’t steal

13. In Somali culture people trust each other

14. Somali’s maintain cleanliness and hygiene

Answer: Here are the not so good things about our culture.

1. Female Genital Mutilation

2. Marriage out of wedlock

3. Forced marriage

4. Women being tortured

5. Early Marriage

6. Women inheritance

7. Forced divorce between loved couples

8. Not using child spacing

9. Child labor especially underage children

10. Very high dowry demand – 100 camels

11. Women not given or participating in the inheritance of father’s wealth

12. Young girls given to old men to marry in order for her family to get wealth from him

13. Discrimination against the minority and disadvantaged groups in society

Cultural Orientation Classes

Life cycle of resettlement emotions for refugees.

2. Resettlement Bliss

4. Depression & Culture Shock

5. Stabilization.

1. Anticipation and excitement

3. Reality of new life in the U.S.

Cultural Orientation Video About Integration and Culture Shock

“This discussion about the illegality of female genital mutilation in the U.S. is really more of a discussion about different values and how you will handle it when your values are challenged in your new setting.”

“What will you do when your neighbors are drinking alcohol and barbecuing pork? What will you do when you are not permitted to leave work early to observe Ramadan?”

The inside of an airplane

The inside of an airplane.

You will have an assigned seat throughout the flight.

Here is what your plane ticket will look like.

This is what your meal will look like. The flight attendants will bring it to you.

Congratulations on completing your cultural orientation. You will now travel to the U.S. within one to four weeks from today.

Titus explain traveling to the United States. “Do not open this bag until you

reach the U.S.. It has all of your documentation.

Life In The Camps

• All registered refugees are eligible for food from the World Food Program WFP

• Approximately 200 persons per day 

• Frequency = Food is rationed to families 2 times a month

• Anybody age 18 and above can receive food on behalf of the family; however, it is distributed to the head of the household.

• Food is issued based on the size of the family and there are universaldistribution standards.

• Food is distributed based on the available inventory.

• Cornmeal-420g, Vegetable oil-25g, Corn soya blend-55g, Lentils-60g, and Salt-5g

Food Distribution

World Food Program storage tent for rationed food items.

World Food program food storage area.

Visual representation of food rations so that everyone knows what they will receive.

One ration of lentils.

One ration of ground nuts.

One ration of corn soya blend.

One ration of salt.

One ration of cooking oil.

Final weigh-out of rations.

Entrance and exit to food distribution.

Post food rationing – IFO.

Camp walk ways.

Children playing in IFO on a Sunday afternoon.

Homes in IFO.

IFO mechanic shop. IFO bicycle repair area.

Homes in IFO.

Ethiopian children enjoying seeing the instant result on a digital camera

IFO clothing merchant.

Camel meat. IFO Market.

IFO Market.

IFO Guides.

Out of gas in the bush!

Sleeping tent in U.N. compound. Ugali & goat meat.

Grilled goat meat.

David - UNHCR Staff.

Abas - IOM staff.Jeff and Mark – CO Trainers.

UNHCR Case Workers.

• $1,400 Airline Ticket Northwest & KLM - Minneapolis to Amsterdam/Amsterdam to Nairobi (16 hours of flying time)

• $300 U.N. Charter Plane to Dadaab roundtrip (Mondays & Wednesdays)

• $450 ($30/Night) - Mennonite Guesthouse & Tent in Dadaab

• $168 ($2 to $8/Day)- in Nairobi using taxi & public transportation

• $450 ($30/Day) - Food & Beverages includes cafeteria in Dadaab

• $50 Entry Visa - Payable at point of entry in CASH.

• $182 Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Center, Maasai Markets and entertainment.

• Total Trip Cost Approximately $3,000

Trip Cost

www.churchworldservice.org

www.iom.int

www.unhcr.org

How To Support International Refugee Resettlement Efforts

• www.lssmn.org

• www.minnesota.wr.org

• www.ccspm.org

• www.mnchurches.org

• www.iimn.org

How To Support Local Refugee Resettlement Efforts

Mission: To help reduce misperceptions about foreign cultures and

perpetuate the belief that we are all more alike than different.

Method to the Mission: After each segment of travel I will share my

experiences with colleagues, friends, family, neighbors, and whomever else

will listen in hopes that my efforts will help to eradicate ignorance about

different cultures, places and values.

About the Presenter

Robinson Cook

Professional Contact Info - Lutheran Social Services - Employment Service Director- 612-879-5318 Robinson.cook@lssmn.org

•This presentation can be viewed and downloaded at:

www.slideshare.net (Search Word: Dadaab Cultural Orientation)

The End Questions?

Photo by: Amina