Connecticut communities are gearing up to support the refugee resettlement efforts in our state. Currently, the focus is on supporting local communities welcoming hundreds of evacuated Afghan families to be resettled in the state over the next 6 months. UConn is working with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), Quiet Corner Refugee Resettlement, and other local organizations to build a support system and a network of volunteers for a variety of tasks. As these Afghan families begin to establish new lives here in Connecticut, they will need help understanding US culture and building English language skills. They also will need help navigating activities like grocery shopping, doctor’s visits, enrolling their children in school and more. Welcoming people from other countries is through the resettlement program reflects values of inclusion and solidarity, and our hope is to find volunteers at UConn to assist these families as they make homes in Connecticut.
We are looking for volunteers who demonstrate empathy and sensitivity with regard to difficulties immigrants may be facing, with an orientation towards supporting their resilience. Volunteers should be open to learning and engaging with people from different cultures and backgrounds—it’s not only about helping and teaching others but also about learning and expanding your own world view.
While volunteers may be engaged in a variety of tasks, there is an urgent need for interpreters and translators who speak Dari/Farsi or Pashto. Fluency in language and culture is a requirement for volunteers who wish to interpret (spoken) and translate (written), as you must be able to interpret/translate while also providing cultural context to the situation.
If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity (interpreter or otherwise), please fill out this form, and we will share your information with agencies that contact us requesting volunteers.
For more information, contact: Zahra Ali at zahra.ali@uconn.edu