Links to Africans
by Vickie Johnson-Scott
Chair, International Trends and Services Program, Commonwealth Chapter of The Links Inc.
Developing and strengthening its international bonds with Africa, the Commonwealth Chapter of The Links, Inc., has established a partnership with Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS).
The International Trends and Services Program of The Links helps orient immigrant families to life in the U.S. Its efforts have focused on a family of nine that has found refuge here after leaving their native country of Burundi. Located in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa, Burundi was torn by a civil war from 1993 to 2006. Still, peace agreements have not been finalized, and violence continues to daily threaten the lives of Burundi citizens.
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Neema, Link Vickie and Alexis
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The Sadock family came to Virginia in November 2007. Jeff Sulik, the hard-working, dynamic Service Assistant at RIS, introduced The Links to these Burundians on April 30, 2008. RIS trained The Links to become effective mentors, and one Link member was certified to teach English as a second language (ESL) to help the family communicate in their new American home. The International Trends and Services Program committee members were Link Carolyn Montgomery, Link Marilyn Royal, Link Rosalind Everette and Link Rose Adams.
The father of the family is named Sadock, and the mother is named Neema. The seven children are Alexis, Euphrasie, Charlotte, Emmanuel, Ferdinand, Raphael and Joseline.
The Burundi Family Choir
performing at the World Refugee Day Event hosted by Trinity Baptist Church on July 19, 2008. Richmond audiences have been dazzled by the group's harmonious delivery of Christian music.
Connections between The Links and the Sadock family have been numerous, and sometimes, inspiring. Over the course of the year, The Links:
- helped with medical needs
- helped with homework
- taught English
- helped decipher the mail
- provided job readiness skills to the mother, Neema
- helped the girls with personal hygiene
- took the family on a weekly basis to the store for groceries and household needs
- took the children on outings such as soccer games and museum visits
- provided the family whatever they needed to move them to self-sufficiency.
- took Alexis, aged 16, to an interview with Partnership for the Future
- contributed $500.00 to RIS.
The Commonwealth Chapter Links provided over $200.00 to purchase back-to-school supplies in September 2008. During the Christmas holiday, the International Trends and Services Program members provided a Christmas dinner and took the children to see a play at a neighborhood church. The Sadock family has been very grateful for the support and help that has been provided to them over the last year.
World Refugee Day Event at Trinity Baptist Church on July 19, 2008.
Top center is Dr. A. Lincoln James, Pastor.
Coming to the U.S. from Burundi, the Sadock family is among many thousands of refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of wars, armed conflicts and/or gross violations of human rights. The Links International Trends and Services Program is providing the Commonwealth Links great opportunities for them to give mentoring support to the Sadock family, and it has been a very rewarding project for the Commonwealth Chapter.
Vickie Johnson-Scott is a member of the Community Board of Refugee and Immigration Services in Richmond
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Refugee and Immigration Services
of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond
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Hampton Roads
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Roanoke
820 Campbell Ave., SW
Roanoke, VA 24016-3536
(540) 342-7561
(540) 344-7513 (fax)
www.risva.org
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Richmond
1512 Willow Lawn Drive
First Floor, Suite A
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 355-4559
(804) 355-4697 (fax)
www.risva.org
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Hampton Roads Editor
Karen Schomaker
RIS AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer
Roanoke Editor
Marybeth Pizzino
RIS AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer
Richmond Editor
Abby Sine
RIS AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer
Publisher, Editor:
Cliff Hocker
Member, Richmond RIS Community Board
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