Often they work under the table, which opens the doors to abuse. By denying them visas, we are creating a culture that is not healthy. Because of the special needs of these communities, a raft of agencies has emerged. The Jones Library in Amherst sponsors a tutoring program, which is how Kjeldsen and Pham met. The Center for New Americans, with offices in Greenfield and Amherst, teaches English as well as basic computer skills.
Some programs give back to the community.
Letting go Adapting to a new culture often comes easier to children than to adults. Thondup Tsering, former president of the Tibetan Association of Western Massachusetts, spoke of the concern in his community over the loss of Tibetan culture. The older generation, on the other hand, tends to hold on tighter to connections with home. Pham spends a considerable amount of his income on phone calls back home. Chham said that her mother misses her own mother, and speaks of one day returning to Cambodia, after her children are settled with their own families.