***Office of Refugee Resettlement***

***Report from the 2003 National Consultation***

***Somali Bantu Planning Workshop***

The anticipated arrival and resettlement of 12,000 to 15,000 Somali
Bantu from refugee camps in Kenya during FY 2004 poses a major challenge
for the United States (U.S.) Refugee Program. Recognizing that national
volags and their affiliates need up-to-date information on refugees in
order to effectively assist them, the Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration (BPRM) of the Department of State funded the Cultural
Orientation Resource (COR) Center at the Center of Applied Linguistics
(CAL) to facilitate the flow of information among overseas and US
refugee service providers. This service has proven to be an essential
resource for communities receiving refugees, the Somali Bantu being the
largest group currently.

In order to continue what BPRM began, the Office of Refugee Resettlement
(ORR) in planning its 2003 National Refugee Program Consultation
determined to dedicate a major plenary session to Somali Bantu
resettlement to further equip communities receiving the Somali Bantu
with useful information for assisting this population. To plan that
session, it convened a planning workgroup consisting of about 50 people
who have experience resettling the limited numbers of Bantu already in
the US. The purpose of the meeting was to enhance the flow of
information about the needs of this population and to identify the
challenges and best practices in their resettlement process.

Planners included selected State Refugee and Refugee Health
Coordinators, national voluntary resettlement agencies (volags),
resource people from the government and private sectors, case workers
who had actually worked in the field with incoming Bantu, and a few
newly arrived Somali Bantu refugees. The session was chaired by Myrna
Ann Adkins of the Spring Institute for Intercultural Study. Discussing
strategies that worked and those to avoid, the group met for a full day
on October 8 and developed the agenda for the Bantu plenary session.

The overall consensus was that the Bantu have a high likelihood of
becoming self-sufficient and integrated into American life, given their
strong work ethic, their eagerness to learn English, and their proven
track record of tenacity and adaptability. These are survivors.

However, the adjustment to life in the US will come with many
challenges, which agencies already resettling the Bantu are beginning to
address. Resettlement agencies and receiving communities should be aware
of the growing number of materials and resources available that provide
valuable information and examples of relevant ways to assist the Bantu
effectively. As larger numbers of Somali Bantu arrive, ongoing
discussion and exchange of information regarding this population will be
essential to their successful resettlement and integration into the US.

This ongoing exchange of information will be coordinated and facilitated
by the ORR funded *Somali Bantu Project* and by the BPRM funded CAL
Refugee Discussion listserve. In addition, several ORR funded technical
assistance providers are available to assist agencies in developing a
wide variety of services that the Somali Bantu will need. Contact
information for these resources is provided at the end of this report.

What follows is a summary of the discussion topics from the October 8
meeting.

***Background***

Larry Yungk of UNHCR explained the history leading up to the decision to
resettle the Somali Bantu in the US. UNHCR has been working with the
Somali Bantu since 1992. Given that the Somali Bantu are a persecuted
minority group among the Somali, it was determined that repatriation was
not a durable solution for this group. Attempts to resettle large
numbers of the Bantu in Tanzania and Mozambique were not effective, so
UNHCR approached the US Department of State to consider resettlement to
the US as a solution for the Bantu.[^1] In order to do this, it was
necessary to identify who was part of this group. UNHCR and the
Department of State decided to use the list of Somali Bantu already
registered for the failed Mozambique resettlement effort. After the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted a verification
process, 11,000 Somali Bantu were determined eligible for resettlement
to the US. In 2002, another verification process was conducted to pick
up cases that had been left out. It is important to note that the Somali
Bantu have gone through several screening checks before resettlement.

Kelly Gauger of BPRM at the Department of State reported that 808 Somali
Bantu were admitted to the US in FY 2003, a number much lower than was
expected. The slow arrival of this population is attributed to the
following factors:

-   From December 2002 until September 2003, Department of Homeland
    Security officers were not able to conduct their usual circuit rides
    to Kakuma camp in Northern Kenya where the Somali Bantu are residing
    due to security threats. BPRM funded IOM to improve security in the
    camp to facilitate resettlement processing which has resumed.

-   The US Embassy departure from Nairobi in May 2003 further slowed
    things down. However, now the embassy is again functioning at full
    capacity.

-   Every refugee resettled must receive CIA and FBI clearance. The
    Department of State is working hard to ensure that the necessary
    Security Advisor Opinions do not slow down the process
    unnecessarily.

-   A flight carrier limit has been set by Department of Homeland
    Security, making it possible for only 35 refugees to be transported
    on one airplane at one time. This has led to transportation
    bottlenecks.

In spite of these setbacks, every effort is being made to speed up the
resettlement process. BPRM hopes that the remaining caseload of the
13,000 identified Somali Bantus will all be interviewed and resettled to
the US by the end of FY 2004. This will be possible barring any
unanticipated security problems arising in Kenya.

Reporting on the orientation given to the Somali Bantu before they
depart from the refugee camp, Sasha Chanoff who formerly worked with the
IOM in Kakuma reported that the Somali Bantu are given literacy classes,
which were identified as necessary since many Somali Bantu have not had
the opportunity to attend school. The International Rescue Committee
constructed 40 structures for literacy classes. Students are divided
into semi-literate and pre-literate groups, and 80 Somali Bantu with
higher education are teaching their compatriots. Classes are reportedly
well attended.

In addition, IOM provides 10 days of intensive cultural orientation
before Somali Bantu refugees depart to the US. The purpose of these
classes is to 'plant seeds' of information that will be reinforced and
expanded upon by volags resettling the Bantu. The Bantu are given
information on pre-departure processing, the resettlement agencies,
housing, US laws, cultural adjustment and health issues. In addition,
IOM has constructed a functional kitchen and bathroom in Kakuma so that
the Bantu can see it and learn how various appliances work. To prepare
the Bantu for a US time-oriented society, the Bantu are being instructed
in how to use alarm clocks, which are set to keep track of time during
orientation classes. It should be noted that 60 percent of this group
are under the age of 17, and orientation in Kakuma is focused on those
15 and older.

A question was raised about family reunification for the Bantu now
arriving. Kelly Gauger of BPRM recommended that agencies wait for the
initial resettlement process to run its course before filing Affidavits
of Relationship for family reunification.[^2] This is to avoid confusion
if the family member of concern is coming in a later group already
schedule for resettlement. Larry Yungk of UNHCR highlighted the
importance of local volag affiliates keeping the national volags
informed about family reunification cases so that these issues can be
tracked more efficiently.

***Bantu Cultural Orientation in the U.S.***

Several resources and examples of good practice for Bantu cultural
orientation were identified.

-   BPRM has funded CAL to strengthen links between overseas orientation
    and US resettlement. This information can be obtained via the
    Refugee Discussion list serve.

-   In Boise, ID, agencies hold weekly meetings with the Somali Bantu to
    discuss how things are going, to identify pressing concerns and to
    provide relevant orientation in response.

-   In Springfield, MA, resettlement agencies have recognized the need
    to prepare the community through fostering positive media relations
    and through talking with hospitals and doctors to orient them on the
    needs of the Bantu. They have hired women case-workers bi-lingual in
    Maay (the indigenous language of Somali Bantus) and English, who
    have played a key role in assisting Somali Bantu women who have
    medical needs that are culturally not discussed with men.

-   In St. Louis, MO, resettlement agencies began orienting their
    community in 2002 before the first Bantu arrivals came. Relying on
    volunteers who are willing to be available on a full-time basis,
    resettlement agencies are offering 6-8 weeks of orientation to the
    Somali Bantu.

-   In Phoenix, AZ, resettlement agencies are offering orientation on a
    one-to-one basis through intensive case management. The Somali
    community in Arizona has been very supportive of the Somali Bantu
    newcomers. Somali women in particular are helping to orient the
    Bantu women.

-   Some resettlement agencies have found volunteers to live with the
    Bantu families for their first week in the US to help orient them.

-   Another agency provides one hour of safety orientation for the Bantu
    when they first arrive, followed by six more hours of orientation in
    the first week. Then at bi-weekly orientation meetings, the school
    district, fire department, law enforces, etc are invited to further
    orient the Bantu as their need for more information grows.

-   One agency has given their bi-lingual case-workers cell phones so
    they can be accessible at any time to Somali Bantu clients. However,
    it was noted that it is important to monitor the pressure on
    bi-lingual staff who need breaks from long work-weeks.

-   Resettlement agencies advised building on community compassion to
    recruit volunteers and to utilize students for research needs and
    other community orientation projects.

***Health Issues***

A number of health issues among the Somali Bantu have been identified by
the Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA) and the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) that conducted eight site
visits to locations where the Somali Bantu have been resettled. Health
problems that resettlement agencies are seeing with some frequency
include the following: parasites, anemia, malnutrition, high blood
pressure, malaria, skin disease, dental needs, Hepatitis B. This is not
too surprising given the refugee camp conditions from which the Bantu
are coming.

A variety of anecdotes related to Somali Bantu health, social adjustment
and their overall well-being were shared. These included some discipline
problems with Somali Bantu children at school, a child with kidney
stones, a woman who asked for contraceptives but didn't want her husband
to know, etc. While helpful to note these cases, it is important to
avoid stereotyping on the basis of only a few examples. In the words of
one workshop participant, "If you have met one Bantu, you have met *one*
Bantu."

Some Somali Bantu cultural health care practices were identified of
which US health care providers should be made aware. These include the
following:

-   The Somali Bantu have relied on traditional healers and bonesetters,
    largely as a result of lack of health care in Somalia.

-   They sometimes use burning, cutting, and lacerating techniques to
    treat health problems.

-   Infants with diarrhea are sometimes treated by removing their back
    teeth.

-   Home child-birth is common.

-   They may hold some traditional beliefs, assuming that their medical
    problem is a result of some other factor.

-   Female circumcision is reportedly practiced by some Somali Bantu,
    but not all. This is not a practice that is traditionally part of
    Somali Bantu culture but some began the practice as a means of
    cultural assimilation into majority Somali groups.

Overall, resettlement agencies have found it relevant to address Bantu
health needs in ways similar to other refugees. It is of key importance
that translators are available at health examinations---women
translators for refugee women in particular. In addition, resettlement
agencies should make every effort to inform health care providers about
Bantu cultural understandings of health, even as the Bantu are informed
about American understandings of health and hygiene.

***Language Training***

Several resources and examples of good practice for Bantu language
learning were identified.

-   In Boise, ID, volags are reinforcing cultural orientation issues
    with language classes on the same issues. The Somali Bantu are eager
    learners and are making impressive language acquisition progress.

-   In one place, refugee women's groups have proven to be a good forum
    for language learning as well as allowing for relationships that
    have created a positive sense of community well-being.

-   In other areas, ORR grants are being used to train teachers of
    refugee children.

-   The Inter-Religious Council of Central New York has developed a
    Primer and Teachers Manual in Af Maay for pre-literate Somali Bantu
    students.

A great deal of English training material has already been developed.
Resettlement agencies need not reinvent the wheel, but should prioritize
teaching ESL in more integrated ways combining ESL with employment,
cultural adjustment and health issues.

***Employment***

Resettlement agencies are finding that the Somali Bantu are eager to
work as soon as possible. This work ethic has a long history. Sasha
Chanoff noted that in Dadaab, Kenya where the Bantu first lived, they
staffed many of the NGO jobs in the refugee camp. When they were moved
to Kakuma to facilitate the resettlement process, NGOs scrambled to find
others to take their place, sometimes hiring two new employees to do the
work of one Somali Bantu. It seems the Somali Bantu are willing to work
at any job. In the words of one Somali Bantu refugee, "I don't think any
job in America will be worse than the jobs I've already had."

Resettlement agencies are seeking, as much as possible, to build on the
existing skills of the Bantu. In Kenya they have worked as technicians,
mechanics, construction workers, loaders, teachers, cooks, community
development workers, sanitation workers, weavers, traditional birth
attendants and small scale farmers. So far, volags are placing the Bantu
in housekeeping jobs in hotels, vocational mechanical programs,
hospitals and landscaping firms, to name a few. Even Somali women who
have not traditionally worked outside the home are arriving with the
expectation that they will go to work. Creative child-care options will
likely be necessary for these women.

It was noted that some volags are enrolling the Somali Bantu in the
Matching Grant program designed to facilitate self-sufficiency within
four months after arrival. In addition, resettlement agencies were
encouraged to consider micro-enterprise (a program funded by ORR) as a
viable option for the Bantus, as well as rural farming projects, though
these may not be immediate options.

***Community Acceptance and Integration***

Because the Somali Bantu are entering a world very different from the
one they know, we can expect that it will take time for them to adjust
to life in the US and to feel completely comfortable and able to access
whatever goods and services they need on their own. We know from
experience with other refugee groups that integration is an on-going,
multi-dimensional, dynamic process. For the process to move along in a
positive direction, both refugees and the host community must be willing
to accept and learn from one another. Myrna Ann Adkins of the Spring
Institute summed it up by quoting a UNHCR conference report: "You can't
feel grounded until you belong, and you can't belong until you are
accepted."

The key to helping receiving communities prepare for the arrival of the
Somali Bantu is to provide them with as much information as possible, to
correct any misconceptions, to make them aware of the needs and to ask
for their help so they feel a part of welcoming the new arrivals. In
several receiving communities, volags have worked with the press to
provide interesting stories and information on the Bantu. In Utica, NY,
four community awareness workshops were held for religious leaders. In
addition, a program was begun where local elementary school children
'adopted' some Somali Bantu refugee children to help them adjust to
their new school. In Boise, ID, service providers have found that they
have a more powerful and persuasive voice when they collectively, rather
than individually, request the support of politicians and community
leaders.

To avoid situations in which prospective host communities respond
negatively to the arrival of the Somali Bantu, it is important that the
groundwork is laid in a positive way well in advance of the arrival of
the Somali Bantu. Everything possible should be done to avoid a
situation of re-traumatizing refugees by resettling them in a hostile
environment.

Sheik Nur Hassan (Bob), one of the first Somali Bantu to arrive in the
US, addressed the participants of ORR's 2003 National Consultations and
spoke articulately of his positive experience being resettled to the US.
His wife has received the much needed medical treatment that she could
not access in the refugee camp. His children are in school and learning
English rapidly. He is working and has learned to drive a car donated to
him by someone in the community so that he can take care of his family's
transportation needs. In the US less than a year, Sheik Nur Hassan (Bob)
and his family are already contributing positively to their local
community and economy. If Sheik Nur Hassan's experience is any
indication of what is to come, America has much to gain from resettling
the Somali Bantu in our communities.

***Participants in the workgroup***

**State Refugee Coordinators**:

Alexandra Ventura, New York; Caitriona Lyons, Texas; Charles Shipman,
Arizona; Norman Nakamura, Utah; Juliette Nguyen, Massachusetts; Gus
Avenido, Minnesota; Health: Elaine Quinn, Texas.

**National Volags**:

Christine Petrie, IRC; Debra Stein, EMM; Diane Landino, LIRS; Jennifer
Hendrick, CWS; Dick Hogan, USCCB; Dan Kosten, WR; Joseph Moseray ECDC.

**Local resettlement workers**:

Edie Sidle, IRC Salt Lake City; Ahmed Fadumo, IRSA St. Louis; Jim
Delaney, CWS/USCCB Rochester; Christine Bruce-Bennion, DFMS Boise;
Kassahun Bisrat, ECDC Houston; Robert Marmor, HIAS Springfield; Peter
Vogelaar, LIRS Utica; Ryan Smith, WRRS Wheaton, IL; Mohammed Farah,
USCCB Dallas; Miro Marinovich, IRC Tucson; Susan Gundlach, LIRS
Milwaukee; Barbara Klimek, USCC Phoenix.

**Resource People:**

Larry Yungk, UNHCR; Myrna Ann Adkins, Spring Institute; Jane Bloom,
Refugee Works, LIRS; Scott Robbins, Mercy Housing; Kerry McCarthy, LIRS;
Dan Krotz, ISED; Marouf Jwanmery, NCPC; Andrea Frodema, IRC; Capt. John
Tuskan, SAMHSA; David Smith/Heather Colvin, Office of Global Health;
Daniel Van Lehman/Omar Eno, Portland State University; Sasha Chanoff,
former IOM Kenya; Sheik (Hassan) Nur Bob, a Somali Bantu refugee
resettled in St. Louis, MO; Sanja Bebic, CAL; Hamud Mohamoud.

**ORR:**

Marta K. Brenden, Sue Benjamin, Pamela Green-Smith, Bill Eckhof, Shelly
Dick.

***Resources on the Somali Bantu:***

The ***Somali Bantu Project*** at Portland State University, in
collaboration with their fiscal agent the Immigrant and Refugee
Community Organization, is an Office of Refugee Resettlement funded
ethnic self-help initiative. The key personnel on the project include
the director, Omar Eno, and the deputy director, Daniel Van Lehman, both
of whom have worked with and studied the Somali Bantu for many years.
For more information on them, reference the preface in their booklet on
the Somali Bantu at
[[http://www.culturalorientation.net/fact.html]{.underline}](http://www.culturalorientation.net/fact.html)

The mission of the *Somali Bantu Project* is to assist the Somali Bantu
refugees to more successfully integrate into American society. Services
provided by the *Somali Bantu Project* include:

-   Cultural orientation workshops to refugee service providers across
    the United States;

-   A resource center for service providers, academics and the general
    public on Somali Bantu history, culture and integration issues;

-   A resource center for all Somali Bantu refugees to facilitate their
    successful resettlement and integration.

The *Somali Bantu Project* can be accessed on the internet at
[www.somalibantu.org](http://www.somalibantu.org/) \[the website will be
up and running by the end of November\]. The website will include a link
to written resources as well as other relevant web sites on Somali Bantu
refugees.

***All new resources should be directed to the Somali Bantu Project
where they will be reviewed for inclusion on the project website.***

For more information on the *Somali Bantu Project*, please contact Omar
Eno at <enoo@pdx.edu> or by phone at (503) 725-8358. Dan Van Lehman can
be reached at <dvanlehm@pdx.edu> or by phone at (503) 725-8587.

The ***Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Cente***r at the Center for
Applied Linguistics (CAL) is funded by the Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration, at the U.S. Department of State, "to increase
the capacity of overseas and U.S. refugee service providers to orient
refugees to their new American communities, and to inform U.S.
communities about refugee orientation."

In 2003, COR Center produced the Somali Bantu Culture profile, authored
by Omar Eno and Dan Van Lehman. The center continues to collect and
disseminate information and resources about this population, and other
refugee groups through publications, trainings, presentations, the Web
site, and the Refugee Discussion listserve.  Participation in the
listserve is open to all domestic and overseas refugee service
providers.

Please contact Ms Sanja Bebic (<sanja@cal.org>), for more information or
log onto
[www.culturalorientation.net](http://www.culturalorientation.net/).

***The following*** ***ORR Technical Assistance providers are also
available to assist you:***

***Health***

Office of International and Refugee Health

Phone (301) 443-6279; Fax (301) 443-6288

Web Site:
[www.osophs.dhhs.gov/ophs/oirh](http://www.osophs.dhhs.gov/ophs/oirh)

Heather Colvin, (301) 443-6279, E-mail <HColvin@osophs.dhhs.gov>

***Mental Health***

Refugee Mental Health Program, CMHS/SAMHSA

Fax (301) 443-7912

Web Site: [www.samhsa.gov](http://www.samhsa.gov/)

Capt. John J. Tuskan, Phone (301) 443-1761, E-mail: <jtuskan@samhsa.gov>

Angela Gonzalez-Willis, Phone (301) 443-2507, E-mail:
<agonzal2@samhsa.gov>

***English Language Training***

Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning

Phone (303) 863-0188; Fax (303) 863-0178

Web Page: [www.spring-institute.org](http://www.spring-institute.org/)

E-mail: <elt@springstitute.org>

Myrna Ann Adkins, President; E-mail: <maadkins@springinstitute.org>

***Employment***

Refugee Works

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Phone (410) 230-2767; Fax (410) 230-2890

Web Page: [www.lirs.org/resources/rw](http://www.lirs.org/resources/rw)

Jane E. Bloom, Phone 230-2783; E-mail: <jbloom@lirs.org>

Tom Giossi; Phone 230-2876; E-mail: <tgiossi@lirs.org>

Refugee Works has produced a video on Employment issues in America in
Maay for the Somali Bantu. \[This video will be available by January
2004\].

***Economic Development***

ISED Solutions

Phone (202) 223-3288; Fax (202) 223-3289

Web Page: [www.ised.org](http://www.ised.org/)

Karen A. Dabson; E-mail: <kdabson@ised.org>

***Housing***

Mercy Housing, Inc.

Phone (303) 830-3449; Fax (303) 830-3451

Web Site: [www.mercyhousing.org](http://www.mercyhousing.org/)

Scott Robbins, E-mail: <srobbins@mercyhousing.org>

***Crime Prevention***

Outreach to New Americans\
National Crime Prevention Council\
Phone (202) 466-6272; Fax: 202-296-1356

Web Page: [www.ncpc.org/ona.htm](http://www.ncpc.org/ona.htm)

Marouf Jwanmery, Phone (202) 261-4123; E-mail: <mjwanmery@ncpc.org>

Armand De Flippo, Phone (202) 261-4167; E-mail: <armand@ncpc.org>

***Child Welfare and Services for Trafficked Children***

Bridging Refugee Youth and children's Services, a joint project of:

USCCB/Migration and refugee Services

Phone (202) 541-3291; Fax (202) 722-8747

Web Page: [www.usccb.org](http://www.usccb.org/)

Julianne Duncan, PhD, Email: <jduncan@usccb.org>

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Phone (410) 230-2731; Fax (410) 230-2723

Web Page: [www.lirs.org](http://www.lirs.org/)

Kerry McCarthy, E-mail: <kmccarthy@lirs.org>

# Technical Assistance to MAAs

International Rescue Committee

Fax (212) 551-3181

Web Site: [www.theIRC.org/resettle](http://www.theIRC.org/resettle)

Andrea Frodema, Phone (212) 551-2722; E-mail: <andreaf@theIRC.org>

ISED Solutions

Phone (202) 223-3288; Fax (202) 223-3289

Web Site: [www.ised.org](http://www.ised.org/)

Gerald Brown, Phone (801) 575-8888, E-mail: <gbrown@ised.org>

***HIV+***

Immigration and Refugee Service of America

Phone (202) 797-2105; Fax (202) 979-2363

Web Page:
[www.irsa-uscr.org/help_ref](http://www.irsa-uscr.org/help_ref)

Belinda Rochelle, E-mail: <brochelle@irsa-uscr.org>

***Victims of Torture***

Center for Victims of Torture

Phone (612) 436-4800; Fax (612) 436-2600

Web Site: [www.cvt.org](http://www.cvt.org/)

Melinda Czaia, E-mail: <mczaia@cvt.org>

[^1]: The Tanzanian government recently agreed to permanently resettle
    3,000 to 5,000 Somali Bantu refugees.

[^2]: Many American-bound Somali Bantu families have relatives in Kenya,
    Tanzania, and Yemen. Other Bantu relatives are still in Somalia.