Talked with a Syrian family at the community center and it changed my mind about resettlement programs

I used to think these resettlement programs were just giving people a handout with no real plan. Last Tuesday at the community center here in Minneapolis, I sat next to a Syrian family who had been in the program for 8 months. The dad showed me a spreadsheet of every dollar they had tracked from the stipend to rent to groceries. He told me the caseworker helped them set up a budget and find jobs within 6 weeks of arriving. I had no idea there was that much structure and accountability behind it. It made me realize I was judging something I never bothered to learn about. Has anyone else had their view shift after actually talking to someone in the program?

2 comments

2 Comments

alex52415d ago

Ha! I was THAT guy until my wife made me actually volunteer once.

martin.vera15d ago

Hold up, you actually VOLUNTEERED? Like willingly signed up for something with no pay? My brain can't process this. Was it at least marginally fun?