SUNDAY 9 JULY, 2017 – UWI TODAY
13
COMMUNITY
As citizens across the
g l obe
commemor at ed
World Refugee Day on June
20, the thoughts of many
in Trinidad and Tobago
were turned to people in
far off countries who have
been displaced from their
homes and are struggling
to find a new life. What
may be surprising is that the
refugee crisis is also directly
affecting our society. While
it may seemdistant, walking
among our citizens is an almost invisible population of
refugees. For those involved in the U, We and Refugees
programme, their plight is very real, and they are working
to sensitize our communities.
This is thefirst time this programme is being implemented
at The UWI. Dr. Renee Figuera, Coordinator, Teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) programme
and U, We and Refugees Project Coordinator, conceived the
idea of teaching English to refugees, and proposed it to the
Living Water Community. Romulo Guedez, Instructor and
Advertising and Logistics Coordinator of the programme
suggested offering service learning courses through the Office
of Community Engagement.
Dr. Figuera says, “It made sense for the TESOL
programme to be involved,” because of the importance of
language, “in areas of inequality and areas dealing with access
andmarginal populations.”The programme offers an 8-week
English as a second language (ESL) immersion experience
that emphasizes listening and speaking. The stakeholders
hope it will be a valuable resource for people who face many
obstacles locally when it comes to language.
Dr. Figuera explains, “Our emphasis is on integration.
Our emphasis is on empowerment.” Guedez notes that
the programme gives the opportunity “to facilitate their
integration in our society by specifically overcoming the
challenges derived from language barriers.”
“In 2014 the government approved a refugee policy and that policy is still being implemented
and there is no legislation yet, so it’s still not a government responsibility.”
“They are becoming resilient by equipping themselves
with English,” observes Dr Amina Ibrahim-Ali, Coordinator
of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at the Centre for
Language Learning.
The programme has brought together TESOL of the
Department of Languages and Linguistics; the Living Water
Community; the Faculty of Humanities and Education;
the UWI Office of Community Engagement and the
Humanitarian Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rochelle Nakhid, Coordinator, Ministry for Migrants
and Refugees of the Living Water Community (LWC) is
very familiar with the difficulties of the refugees. Though
the number can fluctuate, an average of 700 refugees are
in Trinidad and Tobago at a time. The majority come from
Cuba, thenVenezuela, followed by Syria and Bangladesh.The
LWC works with the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide protection which means
“everything from providing shelter, mediation, providing
food, liaising with the government, liaising with immigration,
providing training, capacity-building for government, civil
society, etc.”
The lack of a local refugee policy is a major obstacle.
“In 2014 the government approved a refugee policy
and that policy is still being implemented and there is no
legislation yet, so it’s still not a government responsibility,”
said Nakhid.
Progress has been made since the UNHCR stationed
a representative here “to ensure the implementation of
the policy and to ensure the handover of refugee status
determination to the government and protection in general.”
Discussions are in progress to determine the roles of the
various entities involved including the ImmigrationDivision,
but as Nakhid explains, “At this point it’s still a UNHCR and
LWC responsibility, so in the absence of that legislation,
we’ve operated more or less on a good faith relationship.” In
the meantime, the status of many refugees remains unstable.
The policy contains recommendations like providing
the right to work, education and health, but they are not
guaranteed. In the face of increasing needs, the LWC is
working with entities to relieve the situation.
These efforts could make a big difference to the refugee
population. “We can live without food and the new clothes,
but education is very important,” states Paul (not his real
name) who came from Pakistan with his wife and children.
Paul’s command of English is so good he volunteers to assist
other refugees. Despite their daily difficulties, he is optimistic
about his family’s future. “This country is very good maybe
200% better than our country... Over here wherever we go
people greet us with open hands and open hearts in our
church.”
Paul seems to characterize the feelings of many refugees
in the programme. Guedez observes that “they appreciate and
value the effort that has been done to bring alive these ESL
classes to support them.” In addition, the 14 TESOL trainees
who work with them are gaining important practicum
experience as well as exposure to non-homogenous groups.
The trainees designed the curriculum and have even
contributed some funds to help pay for supplies. Volunteers
assist in organization and implementation of co-curricular
activities.
All involved are concerned about the need for local
sensitization. Dr. Figuera talks about the pervasive stereotypes
which exist. For example some suggest that refugees strain
local resources when in fact they are often highly educated
and willing to work. “It’s raising awareness that the ordinary
person in the neighbourhood ...also has a role when it comes
to resettlement because even things like attitudes of openness
or being completely closed can certainly make a difference.
It’s a partnership of persons with a common cause.”
“I think that if we were in that situation... and we had to
be pushed out of our country and we feared death or some
kind of destruction, some kind of oppression...we’d want
somebody to help us, and I think that human kindness can
go a long way,” said Dr. Ibrahim-Ali affirms.
For more information
contact 662-2002
Exts. 82036, 84309 or
Dixie-Ann Belle is a freelance writer and copy editor
A Language
for the
Displaced
Refugees get help to find their voices
B Y D I X I E - A N N B E L L E
Dr. Renee Figuera
