Refugee Stabilization and Integration
Imagine that you are a refugee. You arrive in the United States because your country is war-torn, because you are a political target, or because you want a better life for yourself and your children. You long to be a productive citizen who feels at home in your new country, but that is a mountain to climb — perhaps it feels like Mount Everest. It’s a mountain made up of language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of the skills needed to land a well-paying job. You worry for your children who are struggling in school because they are not yet fluent in English and because they are “different.”
In the last two decades, more than 97,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States; with 50,000 arriving in 2021. Gii has been quick to mobilize, collaborate, and innovate to help hundreds of Afghan refugees and political asylees resettle in Austin, Texas. Now, we have expanded our services to include refugees from Ukraine
One of Gii’s strengths is in its collaboration with local, regional, national, and international entities. Gii has developed programs and services that provide opportunities for each refugee to settle in and thrive. We want to make that “climb” more like Mt. Bonnell than Mt. Everest.
Our programs include online support for refugee students at each stage of education, online mentoring and targeted support for women, language proficiency training, job skills training, job search support, an intensive preparation program for Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL), and a gardening club.
Being work-centered, our programs capture the essence of the American entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic. We have created avenues for refugees and new immigrants to become contributing members of society, particularly in sectors where the U.S. economy is adversely affected by a lack of candidates to fill those jobs. The following descriptions highlight some of our key programs.
Refugee Hiring and Community Resource Fair
We are organizing a hiring and resource fair for refugees to meet local employers and learn how to get hired. Attendees will also be able to learn about English language classes (ESL) and other skills classes. We hope attendees will connect with organizations that offer free services, supplies, and other assistance, all while enjoying free snacks, beverages, and family-friendly entertainment.
This is a great opportunity to meet people and get better connected to the community in Austin. You are welcome here!
Job search support
Finding a job is challenging, especially for a refugee. The Gii team helps write and update resumes, prepare refugees for interviews, and help them adapt their skills to the U.S. workforce. Gii leverages its organizational partners – in both the business and nonprofit sector – in order to assist refugees in securing employment opportunities. Since the beginning of this year, Gii has facilitated the placement of 211 refugees in full-time positions and 369 in part-time positions.
Learning Outside the Classroom
The Global Impact Initiative has started a gardening club that will give the refugees a safe place to practice their language skills, establish identity, rebuild lives, and attain happiness while providing them with a support group and the ability to grow and enjoy the vegetables they like. They have already started collecting seeds from other refugees. These tiny seeds will reconnect them with their home and culture through smells, tastes, and textures, providing them with needed comfort at a time of transition and uncertainty. Gii is supplying them with the basic resources, giving them what they need to cultivate gardens, make new friends, and improve their language skills as well as their mental and physical health. Nutrition education at the garden will be conducted informally.
Together . . .
Let's do our small part to make the world better by facilitating growth in our hearts and in our communities. Seeds may be tiny, but they can have a monumental impact – especially for refugees.
The need within this community is quite vast. As such, Gii is collaborating with other organizations, like Austin Jews for Refugees, Saiva, Muslim Communities, North Austin Mosque, Bridging Tech, StreetYouth Ministries, Austin Food Pantry, Community Assistance for Refugees, among others. Through our collaborative efforts, the resettlement and stabilization process has been significantly streamlined within the Austin-area.
Now that the United States will welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, Gii is extending its services to them as well. Gii already has a comprehensive and unique model, which includes online mentoring, coaching, and tutoring. It has been tested and has proven to be very effective.
Gii has started working with the Ukrainians who have moved to Poland, and will offer the same services to those who arrive in the United States.
Refugee Resources
Click on the map (left) to sign up for Gii’s resources available to Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. Community members, both local and further afield: Learn about opportunities to assist in person and online.
