Resettlement of Karen Refugee in Langley Background history, Adaptation, Work and assistance Education, Health issue, How do | help them? Need services January 28, 2009 Presented By Saw Joe Teeshara Immigration and multicultural Settlement Program Langley Community Service Society For more information regarding Karen People Please visit: © www.khrg.org ‘wow. karencommunity.ca www. kwekalu.net ‘www.karenwomen.org www burmaissues.orgBrief background of Karen refugees The Karen people of Burma or Myanmar are the second largest ethnic group next to the Burman. The Karen people came into Burma over 2700 years ago. Most of Karen people now live in Karen State in Burma. Many Karen converted to Christianity and served for the British rule in military, police, and hospital services during the British rule 1885-1948, ‘The Karen rebellion broke out in 1949 following by the Burma gained independence from the British. ‘The struggle of the Karen independent state was led by Saw Ba U Gyitthe fist president of Karen ‘National Union (KNU). The KNU has been fighting the Burmese government over 58 years since 1949. The current political objective of the KNU is national reconciliation and establishing a federal democratic government based on equality, self-determination and freedom of all ethnic nationalities of Burma. The first Karen refugees came into Thailand after the first Burmese army's major offensive against the Karen National Union in 1984-1985. Thousands of Karen civilians who were victims of the cross fire between Burmese government forces and Karen resistant fighters. Burmese government also brands all of the Karen people live in KNY control as insurgents and enemy. Due to fighting, forced relocation, torture and forced labor, more than 1 million of Karen people become IDP (internal displaced person). They crossed the border and stayed in temporary refugee camps as protracted refugees in Thailand for over 25 years. Recently, Thai authority doesn’t allow Karen people to come to the refugee camps and in the worst situation they were deported or forced back to the Burma sides when the fighting breaks out. The Karen refugees who were welcome to Canada were the people who fled their country and live in refugee camp for quite a long time. They are among the 140,000 Burmese refugees who have been living in Thai refugee camps for up to 20 years. | appreciate for the effort of the Canadian government for visiting the camps and selected more Karen refugees and their relatives to come to Canada. | and other Karen were delighted when we heard that the Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced on June 19, 2008 that Canada would welcome an additional 1,300 Karen refugees from Burma in 2008 and 2009 Current situation Adaptation For all the families, this is a new country with totally different people and language. Due to language barrier, they are frustrated and worried for their family. They feel like they need people help all the time and afraid to ask for support. As you know, Karen people are simple and peaceful so they don’t want to bother other people much. Older people have difficulty to overcome the transition because of not be able to work, language barrier and disease. Most of the young adult work during the daytime and so tired to go to class in the evening because their works are hard labor. | also see that they don’t have ‘much connection with main stream. There are not any programs that will make these people to involve and adapt better in the community.However over all in Here, they said they have enough to eat and as their ability they can try to get a job. ‘Their kids can go to school and have enough warm cloth to wear in this cold weather. They can start saving and buy the things that they want. Few family get car and computers that they can communicate with some relative from other countries. Work and assistance Karen people are hard workers. Beside senior families and unhealthy families, al of the Karen households in Langley like to work and try to stand on their feet. 35 out of 50 households, at least one or two families’ members start working, Due to the current situation; nevertheless, some of the Karen worker got laid off or received less working hours. Most of Karen people work in construction and agriculture sectors. Karen people get the job due by the help of volunteers, church and their own connections. They can’t compete with others in typical job searching due to lacking language ski. Therefore, we have to advocate - letting the company and business know about Karen people. Education On average, kids under the age of 10 are doing fine with the school. Most of them start speaking in English. However, for some of the Karen teenage who are 13 to 19 couldn't catch up with other fellow 80 a few of them drop out from school, according to schoo! district. For the young adult who can’t go to the secondary, most of them start working and go to the ESL class in the evening. For the older people and people on income assistance, they attend ELSA and St Joseph as well as CLA English classes. Health Issues All of the families lived in the refugee for quite a long time and some are suffer from chronic disease such as diabetic, arthritis, prolong stomach ache and back pain. Some of them suffer from post ‘traumatic disorder, They have difficulty to learn or to absorb the new language, knowledge and skils. Few of them have infectious disease. Unfortunately, only about 40% of refugee have family doctor in Langley so they have to go far away to surrey and Vancouver to see the nurse practitioner. Kids have problem with dental and some older folk need to have dentures but those service and equipment cost ‘too much for them to pay. Only few dentists take IFH (interim federal health program) that only cover emergency case, toan Alf the refugees have to pay back their flight loan to immigration office. It will take them a few years for bigger families before they can pay back their entire loan. This loan causes them worried. How do I help them? My job is different from typical settlement worker because | have to do out reach and accompany clients when settlement worker doesn’t do that. | have to do a lot of translation and interpretation. Every letters they received in the box ! will have to explain it to them. | make appointment and accompany them to clinics, pharmacy, hospital, and bank and income assistance office. | have to try to solve the