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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is known for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, skiing and world renowned national parks. However, many people are ignorant to the fact that Utah is also home to many refugees from around the world — and these refugees have growing problems and needs.
Utah Refugee Month was started last year in an effort to make the public aware of the refugees living in their midst, and to help the refugees integrate into local communities. The Refugee Services coordinated with Governor Gary Herbert to established June as the Utah Refugee Month.
World Refugee Day is June 20 and the Utah celebration will be held on Saturday, June 16. The celebration will be held at Granite High School and will host a soccer tournament in the morning, followed with a variety of live entertainment from the various cultures represented, booths, naturalization ceremony and a flag ceremony with all the countries' flags.
The most important thing that someone could do to help a refugee is to befriend them. If people don't make a conscious effort to reach out, then nobody can get integrated.
–Gerald Brown, Director of Refugee Services
According to Gerald Brown, the Director of the Refugee Services Office, 1000 of the 80,000 refugees that come to the U.S. each year settle in parts of Utah. The refugees are typically evacuated from their countries due to dangerous circumstances involving persecution based on race, religion, particular social group, nationality or political opinion.
Brown hopes the event will not only create awareness of the refugees' needs and cultures, but also eliminate growing problems they face.
"The biggest problem they have is not being able to find jobs and needing certain donations," said Brown. Typically, the refugees that are relocated to Utah don't speak English, and as a result have a hard time finding employment and fellowship in their communities.
"The most important thing that someone could do to help a refugee is to befriend them," Brown said. "If people don't make a conscious effort to reach out, then nobody can get integrated. Then they feel disrespected and isolated, and they start acting out as well."
As a result, one of the growing problems for the refugees is that many of the teenage boys are forming and joining gangs. Often these individuals struggle in school because of their poor educational background, and lack of language skills.
"The boys often will become frustrated and drop out of school," said Brown. "If they can't hack it in school, then they try something else, and that typically isn't such a good thing. They can't get a job either, and it is just a recipe for bad stuff."
Brown explained the importance of these community refugee events to help the public reach out and learn more about their refugee neighbors. "When (the refugees) feel welcomed, then it eliminates a lot of problems for everyone. When people go to things like that, they get it. They are much more accepting and more supportive."
The main event for the Utah Refugee Month celebration will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 3305 South 500 East in Salt Lake City. For more information visit: Utah Refugee Coaltion.
Photo Courtesy of Faith Heaton.
