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Impact
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Accomplishments
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2010 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. RWIA has made great strides this year in organizing programs and securing funds for the childcare cooperative. 2. RWIA formed a partnership with the Assistance League of Metro Columbus to supply personal hygiene, clothing, cleaning supplies, and household items to RWIA refugees. 3. RWIA provided life-skills instruction to refugees in their native languages.
2011 GOALS: 1. RWIA will organize and administer a childcare cooperative for refugee women with funding from the Women's Fund of Central Ohio. 2. In partnership with Children’s Hunger Alliance, RWIA will train the women as certified childcare providers and enable them to set up the cooperative program in their homes.
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Goals
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No Impact Goals available.
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Background
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Norah Bagarinka and Tatiana Adams established Rwanda Women In Action in 2008; RWIA became a 501(c)(3) in July 2009. Norah and Tatiana have first-hand knowledge and experience of the cruelty and violence perpetrated on the people of Rwanda and Burundi. Each represents one of the two tribes that were the warring factions in these countries. In central Ohio, they have come together in the spirit of reconciliation to work towards improving the lives of the survivors of genocide.
Columbus, has become the asylum to more than 150 Rwandan and Burundi refugee women and their families. These refuges do not speak English, rather they speak Swahili, Bantu, or French, are unfamiliar with American customs, and after years of living in refugee camps, are inexperienced with the simplest workings of their new homes. They need instruction for tasks including grocery shopping and use of appliances such as washing machines, vacuums, and ovens. The information provided to them upon arrival is written in English and inadequate in detail.
Norah and Tatiana have marshaled their experiences and compassion to become the life source for these new refugees. They provide translation, transportation, and instruction on a twenty-four/seven basis without adequate financial or physical aid. Their ability to speak six different languages gives them the means to communicate and interpret for refugees during legal proceedings, emergency situations, and job interviews.
After a very brief period of assistance upon their arrival, refugees are left on their own. RWIA seeks to fill in the gaps left by this limited information by offering programs at no charge to equip these refugees with necessary knowledge and skills to survive and flourish in their new country.
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Statement from
Ms. Norah Bagarinka, Co-Executive Director
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Since 2007, I have worked with Tatiana Adams to assist African women and their families resettle in Columbus, OH. The idea to form RWIA came from our personal experiences attempting to assimilate in America, learning a new way of living, and our ability to speak multiple African languages. We understand the inherent problems refugees face and are able to guide them through everyday living experiences. Our organization grew out of the needs of the refugees and their dependence on us twenty-four/seven. In the past two years, we formed a board, attained a 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and received grants from Columbus International Program (Schildhouse Founders Fund) and The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. Additionally, we were able to form partnerships with the Assistance League of Metro Columbus and Childrens' Hunger Alliance. The needs of our organization are great, and we recognize these steps are only the beginning.
We are seeking funding for our operating expenses so that we can continue to create programs that will ease refugees' transition to financial independence and life in America.
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Statement from
Ms. Jill Levy, Community Volunteer
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RWIA began by putting on programs where African women from central Ohio told their stories of survival; sang; danced; and sold African crafts to provide scholarships for young women to attend vocational school in Rwanda. It was shortly after this that we became aware of the plight of the African refugee women who had settled in Columbus. At this time, the organization changed direction to focus on aiding these women and their families. We began by donating items that are not covered by food stamps such as health and hygiene items and cleaning supplies.
In August 2010, RWIA was the first recipient of the Schildhouse Founders Fund grant through the Columbus International Program for the Refugee Household Transitional Support Program. We were able to buy cleaning supplies for 15 families and provide the necessary training on how to use them. For most of the first year, supplies were donated by friends and the churches of the various board members. We have begun a partnership in 2011 with the Assistance League of Metro Columbus for these supplies as well as personal hygiene items and clothing.
In December 2010, we were awarded a grant by The Women's Fund of Central Ohio for the Refugee Women Transitional Support Program. This is a pilot program to train, certify, and assist refugee women in collaboration with Children's Hunger Alliance establish a cooperative daycare program that will provide childcare in order for the refugee women to attend English as a second language classes, obtain job training, and secure employment.
We continue to seek funding for operational expenses and future programs.
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