Resettling in Roanoke
One Success at a Time
by Beth Lutjen
Starting a new life in the U.S. is not easy. Take, for example, Lar Lar, a 17-year-old Burmese refugee who arrived in Roanoke on October 1, 2008, with her mother and older brother.
She had a severe heart condition that required immediate attention and kept her from starting school. When Lar Lar was sent to the University of Virginia for surgery, RIS, through the generous support of donors, was able to help meet this family's needs and insure that her mother could be with her in Charlottesville.
In May, a very happy Lar Lar was cleared by her doctor to begin her adventure as a teenager full of dreams in a new country and to start school at Fleming High School.
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Courtesy Ace Clipart
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Sponsors
are
Special
RIS Roanoke asked for updates from sponsors. Below are replies sponsors sent.
by the RIS Roanoke office
This comment comes from a sponsoring group of six people at a local church. They are working with a Burmese family:
"We have really enjoyed getting to know [our Burmese] family! We have done several social things with the family and also are beginning to help out with being advocates for them in the schools their kids are in. We are hoping this grows . . . . We are so happy to know this family -- they have been a blessing to us. When we get together, they are always paying such great attention to our kids and loving on them. Thank you for pairing us with them!"
Julie R.
This comment is from a sponsoring group of four that works with a Bhutanese family:
"We have had an excellent experience so far. I am sure much of that has to do with the family we happened to work with. We have enjoyed spending time with [our Bhutanese] family, not only helping them adapt here but also learning from them about their culture. Indra's* English is getting so much better that we are able to communicate more and more."
Shelley B.
This comment comes from a woman in her 20s who asked to be paired with someone in her age group. We matched her with a young Iraqi woman.
"I've seen Tiba* three times this month and tried to get her a job at the store where I used to work. We'll see . . . . She's so much fun, super easygoing, and really optimistic."
Melanie M.
* Names changed to protect the individual's privacy
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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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