By Elaine McLevie | Project Leader
He was struggling to urge his wheelchair across the room to a spot where he could join an informational meeting for Karen refugees arranged by the Network. That was what caught the eye of one of our staff members. He spoke with sadness of the day when he was forced to walk ahead of soldiers, who were clearing land mines near his home village, and lost his legs when he stepped on one. He shared his feelings of depression at not being able to get out and about, as he could not get his wheelchair to move with ease. A ray of hope flashed for a moment in his eyes, as a staff member promised to get him a wheelchair that worked, and flared to excitement when we delivered it to him two days later.
The next time we saw him he was with a group of Karen refugees at a special forum at the University of San Diego, sitting in his wheelchair, wearing his colorful festive Karen sarong and headband, and chatting animatedly with other people gathered there.
When staff or volunteers meet families in their homes, or arrive with a load of food at an apartment complex, they also have opportunities to talk with refugees about needs they have no way of addressing. In many cases the families are unaware that solutions to their problems can be found. The young man in today's photo has just received a letter which he needs help reading and responding to. He is about to hand it to a staff member, who will talk to him about its contents and arrange for any appointments it says are necessary, as well as making sure that any access problems are identified and corrected. There is no elevator in that appartment building, and the sidewalk does not look very smooth!
It is at times like these that we also hear about other members of a refugee's extended family, or a friend, perhaps living somewhere else in San Diego county, about whom the speaker is concerned. Problems big and small that we solve together, change from stumbling blocks to stepping stones. The transformations, especially from depression at what seems unsurmountable, to elation at having found ways of dealing with a situation, are very exciting.
A big "Thanks!" is due to all of you who donate to our project. You are the catalysts in a process that truly lifts spirits and changes lives.
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