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UPDATE to “Share the Journey Event: Refugees sponsored by the Interfaith Refugee Ministry of New Bern (IRM) entertained several hundred New Bern residents on Saturday March 6, 2010 at Garber United Methodist Church. The afternoon program, “Share the Journey – Introducing Refugees and Their Stories”, included colorful and exciting entertainment by the refugees, personal conversations with the refugees, and tasty samples of ethnic foods. The Montagnard Choir, the Chin Singers, the Karen Singers, and the Karen Dancers shared their native songs and dance with an enthusiastic audience. The songs of the Rhem’s Children’s Choir and the Karen Youth Singers delighted everyone. Stan Dujmusic’s guitar and harmonica music had the audience clapping in accompaniment. The program ended with representatives of the Junior Catholic Daughters presenting a donation to IRM’s director, Susan Husson.
WHO ARE THE REFUGEES? Refugees are people who can prove that they are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, membership in a social group, or political opinion.
IRM is dedicated to helping refugees rebuild their lives in a safe land. Their staff, working with volunteers, civic groups and faith communities, ensures each refugee will receive basic initial support as they begin a new life in a strange land. Since its beginning in 1992, IRM has resettled over 1,000 refugees in eastern North Carolina cities. Ethnicities include: Russians, Ukrainians, ethnic Vietnamese, Bosnians, Croatians, Serbians, Burmese, Chin, Karen, Mon, Shan, Rohingya, Chinese, Montagnards, Kosovar Albanians, Iranians, Cameroonians, Uzbeki, Sudanese, Rwandans, Iraqis, Cubans, and Colombians.
For more information about the Interfaith Refugee Ministry contact Susan Husson at 252-633-9009 or stop by their office at 1233 Colony Drive, New Bern.