Merrimack
Valley People for Peace
Serving the communities of the Merrimack Valley
- Iraqi Refugees in Lowell
- 2011-
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Merrimack Valley People for Peace's involvement with the Iraqi families in Lowell began in January of 2009. At that time there were seven Iraqi families living in Lowell. Iraqi political refugee families are individuals who helped the US government during the war and have been targeted for kidnapping or assassination because of their involvement with the United States. Some speak fluent English; others have limited or no English. All of them are fully authorized to work. Some families come to the U.S. directly from Iraq, others have lived in Jordan, Syria and neighboring countries for extended time before resettling in Lowell. Now in the summer of 2011, there are 37 individuals and families: including 48 children under 12, 27 teens, and several young adults in their 20s living in greater Lowell. Many of the parents are highly educated, with bachelor's and master's degrees in law, education, economics, engineering, information technology, pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry. There are several individuals who were reporters and translators and others in various trades.
A resettlement agency in Lowell finds housing for the families and the government pays for the housing for a few limited months to help them get resettled. The resettlement agency also provides English classes, helps get their social security number, apply for Mass Health, etc. When the families have been here for a year, they can apply for a green card. Many families have difficulty paying rent and utility bills, and some fear they will become homeless. Bedbugs and cockroaches are very serious problems in the walk-up tenements in the city - which you can imagine is very difficult for middle-class families.
The government provides very limited household items for families upon arrival. MVPP supplements with items the families need. People have generously donated funds to MVPP and we are able to purchase a converter box and antenna for the old TVs that they receive (of course they don't work with digital signals now). We purchase a VHS from Salvation Army, pictures for their walls and other items to make their apartments more home-like. MVPP also requests donated furniture and other household items that is in good quality for the families.
Hospitality is important in Arabic cultures. Enthusiasm and generosity are key elements of the culture. When we make deliveries of furniture, etc., to several families in one morning or afternoon, we enjoy staying for tea, and we always enjoy our visits!
MVPP is joined by several churches (Notably First Parish in Bedford) that have had fund-raisers to purchase bus passes for the high school students. The Bedford congregation also bought winter boots for each family member, provided fans in the summer and funding for bed-bug remediation, and their members have been most supportive and are real partners in the effort to assist in the resettlement. A member of this church meets once a week with women who have very limited English for English classes. What a gift! This church, and others, have been very generous with both financial contributions and the many people who volunteer their time with transportation of items, etc.
The families are continually worried about their families back home. Being able to be in touch with them via the internet is almost as important to them as eating! The grandparents in Iraq and the families here are often in tears as they talk on Yahoo messenger -- the grandparents can talk with their grandchildren and the grandchildren can talk with their grandparents. Imagine how difficult it is to know that you probably won't ever see your family again! A generous person has provided used computers for all of the families . . . and the families are so grateful. He even makes sure each computer has a DVD for the kids to watch educational DVDs.
Things continue to be very difficult, both in Iraq and in Syria. Even in 2011, many families in Iraq have electricity only an hour or so a day. That's not long enough to even make ice cubes in 120 degree weather! Generators are used, but they are noisy. Imagine a street full of generators and the noise and pollution they create! Plus, the petrol for the generators is very expensive and not always available. In addition, it is often unsafe to be outside the home and the families here worry about them.
An eighth-grader was chosen as "the" outstanding student of his school by the teachers . . . and a high school senior was recognized as an "A+" student on Channel 5 in Boston this spring. Two of the high school students graduated this year and one is already enrolled at Middlesex Community College. Several of the other young adults and parents are enrolled at Middlesex CC as well.
Some of the families in Lowell are having great difficulty finding any job at all. Others have entry level jobs at Whole Foods and Target, in laundry facilities and in various part-time, temporary jobs, on-call positions, etc.
But there are some success stories as well. Three individuals have positions related to their previous work experience. One mechanical engineer with 10 years of experience took an extensive local HVAC course to certify his skills in the U.S., and he has recently secured a job that includes occasional travel around the U.S. Some of the women are working as tutors at the high school and one woman teaches part time at Middlesex Community College! Another woman is in training in a Boston hospital to become an operating room technician. One family, who has been in this country only seven months, recently opened a Middle Eastern restaurant in Lowell! [We hope you will visit Babylon Restaurant at 25 Merrimack Street in Lowell.] And one of the women had a dream of an Iraqi American Community Center! The Center just opened with the generous donation of a small room from a non-profit organization. They are working to secure funding for staff and eventually a more permanent place. It is wonderful to follow the successes of the families and tragic to walk with them through the many obstacles they face.
MVPP invites you to
become part of this partnership with the Iraqi families. If you can provide
transportation for moving furniture, would like to be a friend to one
of the families, can provide tutoring or occasional transportation to
events, or wish to make a tax-deductible financial donation, contact Mary
Todd, Coordinator of MVPP's Iraqi Friends group at mtodd75@comcast.net.
If interested, contact Mary Todd at 978-687-7864
See
the website helpful to the Iraqis, hosted by the Unitarian Church
in Bedford MA
___________________________________________________
Merrimack Valley
People for Peace meets monthly, on the fourth Tuesday,
at 7:30 pm, at
North Parish Church, North Andover.
(NOT DECEMBER)
Contact
Merrimack Valley People for Peace (978) 685-1389
P.O. Box 573
North Andover, MA 01845
Send material to post on the website to brian@quirk.ws