MaineBusiness.com

Portland, Maine- Imagine arriving in Portland, Maine from a refugee camp in Somalia or Burma and not knowing the language or the customs of America. How do I mail a letter? What do traffic lights mean? What type of clothing do I need to survive a Maine winter? These simple tasks are often taken for granted but to a refugee, learning American customs and social etiquette can be an overwhelming experience. This is where an American Friend steps in to help.

To a refugee our country is another world. The American Friends program, through Catholic Charities Maine Refugee and Immigration Services, is designed to match caring, English-speaking families or individuals with refugee families to help ease the very difficult transition these refugees experience when they move from their country and culture to ours. Generally, the American Friends volunteer helps the refugee family: Learn to function independently in their new surroundings, cope with cultural shock, preserve their cultural identity, and learn a new language.

Tobin Hagelin and her family have been volunteering as American Friends to Dayreh and Someh from Burma since June of this year. According to Tobin the experience has been “such a valuable learning experience for herself and her family.” Volunteering with her refugee family for just an hour or two a week has created a bond between the 2 families that will last a lifetime. Tobin’s daughter has play dates with Dayrek and Someh’s daughter, and her teenage sons take the older children on bike rides around the neighborhood. Tobin remarked, “if you just give what time you can, you will make a difference in someone’s life.”

You can make a difference in someone’s life! For additional information on the American Friends program, please contact Aimee Vlachos-Bullard, Volunteer Coordinator, at (207)523-2737 or at abullard@ccmaine.org.