ACC Volunteer Experience

While I have only had one volunteer day so far at the ACC, I learned and incredible amount in the 5 hours that I was there volunteering. I volunteered this past Friday from 10-2 with Roderick, and while this is not normally a very large number of refugees to work with on Fridays, I still did get to interact with a few of them. My main work for the day was transferring data files for refugees in the ACC system who have had their status changed from “employable” to “unemployable” for a variety of different reasons. While this was not my number one idea of what it would be like to volunteer at the center, I was happy that I could help out in any way possible. However, my time at the center was not all sitting in front of a computer, I did have a chance to meet and talk with several refugees in my off time between computer jobs. I think this connection was what really brought together all that we have read and researched so far in class. Yes, we can read hundreds and thousands of pages and watch hours of raw documentary footage, but I really don’t think the idea of a refugee can really hit you until you meet them in the flesh. I met a Middle Eastern family who had only been in America for a few weeks, and although I had read all the stories from Mawi and the Lost Boys and Deng about their first weeks in America, the reality of this situation really became real when I listened to the ACC representative talk with the family, through a translator, about what they can expect for their first few weeks, months, and first year in America. All of the things that I take for granted in life, knowing common laws and rules, my ability to access medical help and attention, and simply just my understanding of American society and culture, these people are learning for the first time in their 30’s. I cannot fathom the courage and hard will it takes for these families and individuals to come to a completely alien place to start a new life. It is also these stories that I look forward to learning and hearing directly from the refugees as I volunteer longer at the ACC.