LCFS Refugee Resettlement Program

Learning From Each Other in the Workplace

Photo (L - R): Selma Onal, Kasim Karaev, Iryna Degtiarova, and Keith Rufalo

Harrisburg Area Community College (York Campus), a major employer in York county, has begun a new program to help their foreign-language employees succeed in the workplace.  This idea was launched by Mr. Keith Rufalo, HACC Facilities Director, to help encourage better communication with his non-English speaking employees.

One of these dedicated employees is Kasim Karaev, a Meskhetian Turk refugee that was resettled by Lutheran Refugee Services in late 2006.  He was recently hired as a custodian at HACC.  To help address the language barrier, Kasim has been actively participating in English classes offered through his employer. In addition to Kasim's efforts, Mr. Rufalo (his supervisor) has in turn enrolled in Russian classes!

Set up a few times a week, this service aids those who have difficulty speaking English. Why set this up, you may ask? As a result of the increasing influx of foreign workers in today's workplace, services like this are not only appreciated by the employees, but can also nurture camaraderie and communication among co-workers from different cultures. Congratulations to Mr. Rufalo and HACC for beginning this great initiative!  We hope that other employers in the area will also consider the benefits of similar programs.

-Article submitted by Selma Onal, LCFS Staff

June 21: World Refugee Day Event in Lancaster

 

Everyone is welcome at Lancaster's first-ever World Refugee Day celebration, to be held on June 21st at the Eastern Market, 308 E. King Street.  Beginning at 9am, the event will feature multi-cultural cuisine, international arts and crafts and a variety of other locally-grown fresh flowers and produce for sale from Eastern Market vendors.  Children's activities will be available and live international music will be performed throughout the day.  

Representatives of local refugee resettlement organizations, the Lancaster mayor's office, the PA State Refugee Program, and local refugees themselves have been invited to participate in a short program from 11am to 1pm.  There is no admission fee, and the public is encouraged to come out and celebrate the many contributions of refugees in our local community and around the world.

The United Nations General Assembly first recognized World Refugee Day on June 20, 2000, in an effort to celebrate the many contributions of refugees, and raise public awareness of the millions around the world who have been forced to flee their homes.  Since then, World Refugee Day has become an annual event, celebrated in hundreds of cities throughout the world.  According to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), there are currently 17 million refugees and other "people of concern" scattered across the globe.

The event is being jointly sponsored by the East King Improvement District, Church World Service / Lancaster, and Lutheran Refugee Services in Central PA.  For more information, please contact Mindy Nolt at 717-381-2891 or Eric Kennel at 717-397-4757.