From Darfur to Texas

I just returned from San Antonio, where I spent time with a local family of Darfur activists, and the resettled Darfuri refugees they help support. I don't want to say too much about the refugees themselves, so as not t betray confidence (the Sudanese government has been known to keep tabs, even on those who've left) but I will say that, first, I find it amazing that people can go through such horrific --- and to me, unimaginable/completely out of my frame of reference --- experiences and still get out of bed in the morning, much less move to a new country, hold a job, and raise children. I often wonder if I would fair as well, if I ever found myself in a similar situation.

People often ask me for ideas on "what they can do" to contribute to the fight against genocide/mass atrocity/conflict/allthingsbad. Look around you: The links between you, your community, and war may not be as far off as they seem. Imagine what it would be like to flee an attack on your hometown, with your children on your back, live for years on just-above-the-threshold-for-survival rations, and then try to make sense of a life in a new country with a new language, new customs, and a way of life so far removed from everything you find familiar. Who is living right next to you, who might appreciate your support?

Individuals like @goldlis and @goldmeg, along with their family, contribute substantial amounts of their time, out of compassion, to helping Darfuris settle into their new lives in the United States. Refugee support services are scant --- and the efforts of volunteers go a long, long way.

According to the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, 698 Sudanese refugees arrived in the U.S. in 2007 alone. Many different organizations, with many volunteer opportunities, support refugees in the U.S.; for a start, check out the IRC, HIAS, and Catholic Charities USA. If you know of others, please leave a note in the comments section.

[Photo from State.gov ]