Frequently Asked Questions • How Can You Help? • History of the Somali Bantu

The Somali Bantu represent a unique resettlement challenge for several reasons. They have suffered centuries of marginalization and oppression and most recently they have been brutalized and traumatized by the civil war in Somalia. However, their experience as a persecuted minority represents only one challenge in their resettlement. They have also had little or no experience in modern society. Many will have never seen or used modern conveniences such as electric stoves, refrigerators or indoor plumbing. They are largely uneducated and most of them cannot read or write their own language. Lack of English language skills will make employment very difficult and will require intensive ESL instruction in the initial resettlement period. Because they were relegated to menial, unskilled tasks they will come with very few marketable job skills. Health needs will also be extensive with malnutrition, worms, and intestinal conditions common. In addition to physical conditions, because they were subjected to violence, rapes and the killing of loved ones; many will suffer from post-traurnatic stress, nightmares, and flashbacks. Their health practices are primitive by western standards with practices such as cupping, burning, herbal treatments and female circumcision being common. Females marry very young in Bantu culture. Many females will arrive here pregnant and girls in their early teens may already have children.

These challenges are not insurmountable. With patience, dedication and compassion, we can offer healing and hope to the Somali Bantu and their children. Their darkest days will be behind them and a bright new day will dawn in their lives. What a rich opportunity we have to walk with them into that future. We invite you to Come, Walk With Us and with our Somali Bantu friends as we offer them new life. You can be as involved as you want to be. Our greatest needs are:

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Congregational Sponsorship

Since most of the Somali Bantu have no known relatives living in the United States we will need to find a church sponsor for each family. Sponsors make a six-month commitment to the family to assist them with housing, utilities, food, and clothing. A sponsoring church can expect to spend between $2,000-$3,000 for a typical family of four. Two or more smaller churches may join together as co-sponsors. Sponsoring churches provide not only goods and services, but friendship and emotional support as well. Lutheran Family services will provide a one-time resettlement grant of $400 per family member ($1,600 for a typical family of four) to assist in their initial resettlement. A list of sponsor's responsibilities is outlined below.

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Financial Help

For congregations that feel full sponsorship is beyond their capacity, a cash donation will help a family with essential needs such as food, clothing, rent and utilities until they can become self-supporting. Individuals may also donate. Cash donations are tax deductible.

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Employment

Adults will need to go to work as soon as possible. The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program is not a welfare program. We need employers who are willing to hire and train Somali Bantu for tasks where the ability to speak English is not essential (e. g. factory and assembly line, food service, food processing, construction, landscape, agriculture, janitorial, hotel/motel, etc.). The best jobs are those that are full-time with a benefits package.

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Dental and Medical Care

The Somali Bantu will receive 8 months of Refugee Medicaid but this will not cover most dental care. Dentists are needed who will provide free or low-cost dental care. If the refugees are unable to get jobs that provide health benefits by the time their Refugee Medicaid expires, we will need physicians willing to provide free or low-cost medical care. Physicians and nurses will also be needed to assist with initial health screenings within 30 days of their arrival.

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Transportation

Refugees will not be able to drive when they first arrive. Volunteers will be needed to transport them to English classes, job training, shopping, medical and dental appointments, etc. Donations of bicycles or bus passes will also be helpful. Once the refugees have passed their written driving test, volunteers will be needed to help them learn to drive. Once they pass the driving test, tax-deductible donations of used cars will be needed.

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Translators/Interpreters

The Somali Bantu speak a dialect of Somali called Af Maay (or Maay Maay) common in southern Somalia. Some still speak their ancestral tribal languages (primarily Zigua common in Tanzania). Many also speak Swahili. Speakers of Somali/Af Maay, Swahili and Zigua are needed to serve as volunteer translators and interpreters.

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English Tutors

Trained English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL) teachers will be used to develop and teach a specialized curriculum for the Somali Bantu. However, volunteers are needed to meet with the refugees outside the ESL classroom to help them practice their English and to provide one-on-one tutoring.

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Storage

Storage costs are high. Churches, individuals, or businesses that could provide free storage space for donated items are needed.

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In-Kind Donations

They will need furniture, household items, linens, kitchen utensils, clothing, toiletries, food, supermarket food vouchers or gift cards, etc. The following needs list is for a typical family of four:

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Responsibilities of Somali Bantu Sponsors

Sponsors are asked to make a 180-day commitment to the refugee family. In many cases, refugees are employed and self-supporting by the end of the third month after their arrival. The commitment to sponsor is not an open-ended commitment. Although the sponsor's responsibilities will have been fulfilled after 180 days, they may continue to offer emotional support, assistance, and friendship if they choose. Involvement after the 180th day is optional and is at the sponsor's discretion. Should the family become employed and self-supporting sooner than 180 days the sponsor is not expected to continue with financial support.

Average cost to a faith group for sponsoring a typical family of four is $2,000-$3,000. Smaller churches may join together to co-sponsor a family. Total cost for a family of four for six months is in the $6,000 range but sponsors are only asked to provide $2,000-$3,000 of that amount.

The commitment to sponsor a refugee family is a moral and ethical commitment, not a legal commitment. The sponsor assumes no legal responsibility for the family but simply agrees to help provide the thirteen core services required to help a refugee begin his or her new life of freedom in the United States.

Sponsors are asked to provide the following core services for up to 180 days:

1. Meet the newly arriving family at the airport and transport them to housing.
2. Furnish an apartment (used items are okay) and assist with 3 months rent and utilities.
3. Provide food or a food allowance for two weeks until food stamps begin.
4. Provide clothing and other necessities such as personal care items for up to 180 days.
5. Assist refugees in applying for Social Security cards and food stamps. The Lutheran Family Services case manager assigned to your church and to the refugee you sponsor will assist with this.
6. Assist refugees in getting to the doctor for a health exam within 30 days. The SC Department of Social Services will pay for the exam.
7. Register children at school.
8. Help the refugees get enrolled in English classes, help arrange transportation to the classes, and help them practice their English.
9. Provide orientation to the new community and society. This includes helping them locate the grocery store, post office, bank, etc. This also includes helping them learn how to use public transportation.
10. Assist them in preparing for the job market, filling out employment applications, and getting a job. The case manager will assist with this process.
11. Provide transportation to job interviews or job training.
12. Maintain contact with the case manager and with the resettlement agency for 180 days and cooperate with the case manager as he/she prepares and submits required reports.
13. Maintain contact with LFS and your denomination's refugee resettlement office for 180 days.

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Basic Information Sessions

Basic Information Sessions are designed to give basic information on 1) How the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program works, 2) The role of sponsoring faith groups in the resettlement process and 3) The history and culture of the Somali Bantu people. The sessions also serve as the required first phase of training and orientation for faith groups that have committed to sponsoring Somali Bantu families. The content of every Basic Information Session is the same. Participants do not need to attend more than one session.

Who Should Attend? The sessions are open to the public. Persons interested in getting more information on the Somali Bantu or exploring the possibility of volunteering or serving as sponsors should attend a Basic Information Session. Attending at least one session is required for all members of resettlement task forces and key volunteers from sponsoring faith groups.

Where Will Meetings Be Held? All sessions will be held at the Lutheran Family Services office at 1440 Broad River Road, at the junction with Bush River Road, between Saint Andrews Lutheran Church and Virginia Wingard United Methodist Church. Pre-registration is not required.

When Will Meetings Be Held? Somali Bantu Basic Information Sessions will be held on the third Thursday of each month for the duration of the Somali Bantu resettlement project. All sessions are 1 1/2 hours long. Please bring your own lunch for the sessions beginning at 11:45 a.m. Drinks and dessert will be served. The information session schedule for 2004 is as follows:

For More Information call 803-750-9917 ext. 134

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Want to Help? Here's How You Can Get Involved

Come, Walk With Us as we welcome our Somali Bantu friends to their new lives in the United States. Come, Walk With Us as we help create a bright future for these who have suffered so much. Contact us if you can help:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call Richard Robinson at 803-750-9917 Extension 134

TO SPONSOR A FAMILY:
Call Richard Robinson at 803-750-9917 Extension 134

TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME OR SERVICES:
Call Richard Robinson at (803) 750-9917 Extension 134 or
Suzanne Wofford at (803) 750-9917 Extension 130

TO DONATE ITEMS:
Call Suzanne Wofford at 803-750-9917 Extension 130

TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION:
Make your check payable to Lutheran Family Services and clearly indicate in
an attached note that it is for the Somali Bantu Resettlement Project.

Mail your check to:
Refugee Resettlement
Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas
P. 0. Box 21728
Columbia, SC 29221

Come, Walk With Us!

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