Immigrant Connect and RefugeeLives present the first installment of our 2012 refugee stories. Please visit our companion site – Shifting Diasporas in the Arab World – for the special feature on Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in Jordan. In Dec. 2011, at a time when the Arab Spring was reshaping the contours of the Middle East and when U.S. troops were withdrawing from Iraq, Northwestern University students from the U.S. and Qatar converged on Amman to report on their lives and expectations. We are in the process of producing short video documentaries.
Here are the stories we wrote on refugees resettling here in Chicago:
An American dream, permission pending by Karen Chen, Emily Jan, Adam Sege and Priyanka Tilve [Hear the interview featuring this story on WBEZ’s Worldview: Nigerian refugee fights for a life and his marriage in the U.S. It aired on Jan. 31, 2012.]
Nigerian Ogoni refugee facing imminent deportation who’s trying to make ends meet working in a nursing home and taking courses as he hopes that his marriage to an American woman will allow him to stay in Chicago.
Ahlam Mahmoud’s mission: Easing the Iraqi struggle by Jake Rosner
Despite her traumatic past “ from being kidnapped in Iraq, to being held in Syrian jail, to going through a difficult transition to American life,” Ahlam takes deep pride in her experiences and her connection to the Iraqi community.
A full stop: Iraqi Sandy Younan’s resettlement by Anca Ulea
Sandy Younan, a 24-year-old Iraqi refugee, was forced to leave her home in Baghdad and take responsibility of her mother at the age of 20, after receiving a threatening letter. She fled first for Syria, and now lives in Skokie, where she works, goes to school, and takes care of her mother, who developed high blood pressure and cholesterol from the stress of seeing her children in danger.
Hayder Al-Suhail: Cancer-free far from Iraqi home by Alyssa Clough
Iraqi, who was resettled in Chicago because of his testicular cancer, is now cancer-free thanks to free medical care. He has a wide support system and is grateful for his opportunity, though he worries about his brothers back in Iraq, one of whom translates for the U.S. military.
Turning frustration into a future: Maysam Sarfean’s mission by Priya Krishnakumar
Iraqi man, who worked as an electrical engineer for the AP in Baghdad and now works a survivor job at Dunkin Donuts, finds ways to keep from getting frustrated.
Lessons in discrimination: Mariya’s memories of Baghdad
Iraqi Christian refugee who left Baghdad for Syria and then the U.S. after her five kids had to deal with pressure in school, and the trauma of having two family members killed.
Getting by after Iraq with help from friends – Sarmad (Sam) Al Khalidi by Jasmyne McDonald
35-year-old Iraqi translator, resettled in Chicago, stays in touch with U.S. soldiers and with family back home in Baghdad, as troops are withdrawn from Iraq.
The end of an era: Russian refugee Victoria Shelegina beats the clock by Janalynn Pugh
Professional Russian Jewish refugees from Moscow who decided to seek resettlement in the U.S. because their daughter was beginning to be indoctrinated in the school system in Moscow.
Abdulkarim Lazim’s painful silver lining by Julia Anaya
Death of his wife and youngest son of malaria in Kakuma paved the way for this Darfurian refugee and his other two kids to be resettled in the U.S.
Adjusting in the U.S.: Ahlam Al-Gertani’s puzzle by Heba Hasan
Iraqi woman, caught in the midst of changed American policy, is puzzled by life in the U.S.
Sweet home Chicago: Darfur’s Hashim Bakhit’s first month by Katie Gronendyke
Recent Sudanese refugee Hashim Bakhit loves the safety, stability, and education that his new country offers for his family, but is homesick for the country he was forced to flee five years ago because of his non-Arab ethnicity.
A lifetime in 24 years: Salimah binti Nor Islam leaves Burma behind by Ashley Balcerzak
24-yr-old Burmese woman, who at risk of being sold into slave trade in Malaysia, agreed to an arranged marriage. Her husband’s need for brain surgery paved the way for the family to be resettled in Chicago, where her life isn’t what she hoped it would be.
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Cities throughout the world celebrated World Refugee Day over one weekend in mid-June. The celebrations recognized the lives of the millions of people who are displaced from their homes, countries and comforts merely by being in the dreadfully wrong place at the wrong time. In Chicago, hundreds gathered at Loyola University along the Lake Michigan shore to see for themselves how a community of peoples from lands far from America’s Midwest can break new ground for their families and children.
We tell the stories of 14 of them, “ Iraqi, Burmese, Bhutanese, Iranian and Somali’s” who now live and make ends meet in Chicago. These stories are part of an ongoing series that has exposed Northwestern University students to the world’s refugees. Click below to read the most recent group of stories, and go to Immigrant Connect reports from Jordan, Namibia, Malawi refugee settings, RefugeeLives and Safe haven from trauma and torture: World’s refugees resettle in Chicago to read and view others.
Audio slideshow: Hear refugees who have resettled in Chicago talk about their experiences, from the persecution they experienced back home “in Iraq, Burma, Bhutan or Iran” to their times in refugee camps to their resettlement in Chicago. Many of the photos feature refugees in the Dzaleka camp in Malawi, in the Osire camp in Namibia and in Amman and Chicago. Read, see and hear more on Immigrant Connect and on RefugeeLives, both products of Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. Thanks for their support to AT&T and the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies.
Ring Thang Cangmah: Burmese refugee and the waterfalls of Montana by Jeremy Intal and Maria Salazar
“The DVD will perfectly explain,” Ring Tang Cangmah says, eyes still fixed on the television as it changes from the soccer game to the start of a Burmese gospel music video. “why I want to go to Montana. It reminds [me] of Bungtla in my Chin State.”
Alham Hasan: Kidnapping, kidney failure and one woman’s life as a refugee by Anna Bisaro
After the kidnappers stole Alham Hasan’s husband’s car and held him in captivity, they called his uncle to secure the ransom. “It was like having a funeral without the body,” Hasan says.
Sai Khon: Warrior of peace for the Shan people by Hayley MacMillen
The swords on his arm seem to clash with his easygoing nature, but it is clear that Sai Khon has a mission. “I have to do something to protect our people, to protect our heritage. I want to let the world know: This is what’s going on in Burma.”
Raad Al Shimmry: Seven days in captivity lead to a new life by Annie Chang
Raad Al Shimmry says he is content being able to sleep through the night with the comfort of knowing that, in this country, nothing as horrible as what he has already experienced will ever happen to him again. “Month by month, it will be better,” he says.
Sadeq Khatami: A Baha’i family with a secret to freedom by Katherine Jacobsen
“Everyone makes their own religion,” says Sadeq Khatami, an Iranian refugee who fled his homeland with his wife, Farzaha, and daughter Lale, after the family converted to Bahai. Khatami weaves two stories while he speaks of his quick exit: one that he tells his parents, of being one of the few Iranians to win a green card to the United States. The other story, Khatami’s reality, is about his search for religious freedom and struggles with negotiating a new culture in the United States.
Se See Lia: Finding a way through oppression and debt by Katie Chen
Se See Lia sees a way through it. She always has. “I’m free to come and go to every state,” she says. “When in camp, just live in the camp. Some lady told me, ‘have you been to Bangkok?’ I just heard about Bangkok, but never been because no paper to go. But now, free to travel, free to visit.”
Yashoda Dulal: A mother preserving Nepalese culture by Stephanie Novak
The idea of not celebrating in the camps was unheard of. “We had to celebrate in the camps no matter how hard it was because the children looked forward to it,” Yashoda Dulal reminisces.
Hrayer Dekris Nahabet: Disabled refugee, patriotic volunteer by Zoe Fox
Hrayer Dekris Nahabet pulls on his purple linen shirt, drawing attention to the word embroidered in white capital letters, VOLUNTEER. “Anyone wearing this is a volunteer,” the 64-year-old Iraqi native explains with pride.
Phe Tu Lun: Burmese refugee redefines his role as a father by Alexandra Sifferlin
After 18 years living in a refugee camp in Burma, Phe Tu Lun brought his wife and six children to the United States to escape the violence and create a new life. In Chicago, Phe Tu Lun is able to provide for his family in ways he’s always dreamed of.
Indra Rai: Allergic to the word refugee by Katie Prentiss
Indra Rai describes herself as many things, including funny, friendly and cooperative. But she would never call herself a refugee, even though she has technically been one since she was six years old. “If someone says ‘you’re a refugee,’ no, I don’t accept that,” she says. That’s not by my birth. I don’t want to be refugee.”
Hasta Bhattarai: Finding hope after 16 years without a future by Claire Thompson
After being expelled from his native Bhutan at 18, Hasta Bhattarai spent the first 16 years of his adult life in a refugee camp with no concrete hopes for the future. Now that he’s in Chicago, the possibilities seem endless.
Shakor Ahmed: Searching for religious fulfillment from Iraq to Chicago by Lorraine Ma
The congregation around Shakor Ahmed sings along with the organist, all chorusing “shine, Jesus, shine.” “It is not easy to change my beliefs. I am now 48 years,” Ahmed says.
Khadga Darnal: Staying connected with Nepali culture through YouTube by Miranda Viglietti
The 64-year-old Bhutanese refugee uses the computer to connect with his Nepali culture. Even though Khadga Darnal can’t read or write in either Bhutanese or English, his 8-year-old grandson Divas taught him how to find Nepali films and music on YouTube.com.
Refugee life for three Iraqis in Chicago by Katie Prentiss
Listen as Haya Hussein, a family caseworker for Arab American Family Services, translates the problems of three Iraqi refugees.
