Hilary Burbank Lutheran Services in Iowa Refugee Community Services
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees states that a refugee is someone who: - founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country..."
Established in 1950 in the wake of WWII Protection of refugees, IDPs, and stateless Coordinates basic provisions Finding durable solutions Voluntary repatriation Local integration Resettlement Funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and individuals
Africa 12,000 East Asia 19,000 Europe & Central Asia 2,500 Latin America & Caribbean 4,500 Near East & South Asia 37,000 Unallocated Reserve 5,000 TOTAL 80,000
The Middle East & Africa Iraq Sudan Somalia Ethiopia Rwanda Burundi Congo Liberia Sierra Leone Togo
Asia Afghanistan Nepal Bhutan Myanmar (Burma) Laos
~ Tonya Cook, World Relief
Airport Pick up Apartment (set up with donations) Basic Necessities Social Security Card Employment Referral Assistance obtaining benefits
Des Moines, IA Services to senior refugees English classes Work Readiness Training Child Care business development Capacity Development with community leaders Urban Agriculture
Mental Health HOME Home consumption savings Native crops Subsidized income Local food movement Community engagement and interactions
MISSION To empower individuals and create peace in our communities. Photo- Voice encourages individuals to be storytellers. We believe that sharing a story can break down barriers, create understanding, and bring us face- to face with our shared humanity. We are inspired by the South African saying Ubuntu which means "I am because we are." The spirit of this saying drives our mission here at Photo- Voice - that although our existence is defined by individuality, it is complete only when we recognize that we are all connected.
Around 120 growers are connected to plots City community garden plots Churches Organization Even personal home owners
WATER Tilling Relationship with landowner Point person Language Accessibility Tools & soil amendments
Ibrahim Ali - Sudan A little smaller than a ½ acre Drake neighborhood Tomatoes Okra Peppers Cucumbers Melons Potatoes Eggplant Purslane
Plymouth Congregational Church After- service markets Micro- loan for initial expenses
21 growers Trainings Markets at church Friends & Family
Rice Sugarcane Sesame Seeds Tobacco Betel Nut
Long beans Eggplant Cabbage Pumpkin Leafy greens
Many of the plants growing on the river bank Some edible flowers We eat all the parts of the plant root to leaves!
We grew everything we ate except some of our oil, sugar and salt These we bought from India Cash Crops Include: Ginger Corn Rice Millet
Betel nut Cardamom Oranges Lemons
Goats Cows Chickens Pigs Ducks
6 acres of ginger 4 acres of millet and corn 3.9 acres of oranges 3 acres of rice.5 Acres Betel nut Rest of land for livestock 18 acre farm
Use oxen for tilling Wooden yoke with a hoe I am able to build the tiller and also made them for others in the village
Harvesting was a system of helping each other Tell all friends that ginger is ready everyone comes to help Then when others needed to harvest I would go to help them No one pays money Enjoyed singing together in the field
Yellow kidney beans Corn Cassava trees Green Peas Avocados
Cabbage Sweet Potatoes, all kinds of potatoes Coffee Burundi once received prize as the best coffee in the world! White Rice Banana Trees
ORR (office of Refugee Resettlement) grant 8 growers moving to training farm ¼ acre plots Market expansion Short Season pilot CSA Record Keeping Training
Major languages: Burmese, indigenous ethnic languages could include Karen Sgaw Karen Karenni Hakha Chin Kayah Kayan Shan
Intro. to Global Greens Farm Development Program (orientation/contract/expectations/risk management) December 2012 How to get Seeds Ordering Seeds, Saving seeds, Buying seeds from local stores January 2014 Vegetable Production 1 Vegetable Production basics, Planting Calendar, Crop Planning February 2014 Record Keeping Financial and Crop record keeping March 2014 On Farm Orientation water conservation, water hose maintenance, tools cleaning/maintenance, cold storage, Safety and Damage prevention. April 2014
Soil Improvement Composting November 2013/May 2014 Farmers Market and Branding May 2014 Vegetable Production 2 Organic Pest and Weed Control (Integrated Pest Management) Companion Planting. June 2014 Succession Planting & Fall Planting July 2014 Fall Field Maintenance and Clean- up October/November 2014 4 PFI Field Day Trainings (visits to Iowa working farms) June, July, August, September
Staff Time Independence (handing off wholesale, CSA) Community Contributions vs. Individual Communication
Time Transportation English Goals Money
Skilled workers Lack of transportation Those with English/transportation have other jobs Benefits of hands on experience on a farm Possible Green house partnerships
Hilary Burbank Hilary.burbank@lsiowa.org 515-271- 7315