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We Share Our World
An exhibit about former refugees now living in Vermont.
September 6 thru October 16, 2010
Scott Memorial Gallery in the Dibden Center for the Arts
Johnson State College
Gallery Hours are M-F 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
September 15, 2010
3 pm-5:45 pm Reception with Ethnic Food
6 pm-7:30 pm Panel Discussion
Visitors will get a glimpse into the lives of new Americans
who came as refugees from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, and Somalia.
This exhibit is a collaboration between
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program (VRRP) and Johnson State College (JSC)
For more information call JSC at (802) 635-1469 or email lstavrand@uscrivt.org
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program
30th Anniversary of Living, Learning, and Growing Together
What does volunteering mean for me and the refugees?
A few months ago I was talking with someone who has known me throughout my three-and-a-half years of volunteering with VRRP. She has watched how the early, all-consuming work with refugees has changed and become an integral and rich part of my life, and she knows how much I enjoy my relationships with my Somali Bantu friends. In this conversation she was questioning me on my motivation for continuing to seek out, collect, and deliver donations of children's clothing to families. "Isn't this just a big ego trip?" she asked. "You show up with a bunch of clothes for the kids and everybody loves you. You're like Santa Claus."
I didn't have to think long to answer. Of course doing this makes me feel great! I put in long hours getting clothes donated, sorting them by size and gender, and delivering them to families who need them. I put together a bag of newborn clothes and blankets for each new baby that is born. Delivering the clothes is really fun and very satisfying. The kids look great in the new clothes, the parents are relieved and happy, and I feel useful. I get to visit new parents and hold newborn babies. Do I enjoy having people feel glad to see me? Absolutely. And I don’t see what can be wrong with this.
The clothing distribution part of my volunteer activity began three-and-a-half years ago when my first Somali Bantu family arrived from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. I collected donations of clothing for the family of eight, but so much came in that I had a lot left over. So I began distributing it to others who arrived with very little. I enjoyed it. I got to meet the new families as they arrived, and bringing them something they really needed bridged our initial shy awkwardness.
Read Volunteer Lauren Berrizbeitia's full account of her experiencing helping refugees.
Learn how you can become a VRRP volunteer.
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Don't miss our upcoming Orientations for Volunteers. All are welcome.
NOTE: You DO NOT have to speak a foreign language to volunteer!!!
- Thursday, Sept. 2 at 12:30
- Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 5:30
- Friday, Sept. 17 at 12:30
- Thursday, Sept. 23 at 5:30
- Monday, Sept. 27 at 12:30
Attendance: Required
RSVP: Not Required
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Location: VRRP
462 Hegeman Avenue,
Colchester, VT
Contact: Laurie Stavrand, Community Partnership Coordinator at lstavrand@uscrivt.org or
(802) 338-4627 for more information
VRRP September Volunteer and Staff Potluck
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 6:00
RSVP: Appreciated but not required
Food to bring: What you would like to share
Time Commitment: Come when you can!
Guests: Family and friends welcome
Location: Stavrand Residence
188 Holmes Road
Charlotte, VT
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Photos courtesy Rose McNulty
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