Do you interest in Burmese Refugees?

There is the Burmese Integration class at IPFW. Adam Dircksen who comes from Ft. Wayne, Ind is teaching this class.

The class basically team-teaching, so with him, Hannah Entwisle is also teaching this class. She used to work at United Nation and she asked Dircksen to teach the Burmese Integration class together. Thus Dircksen started to teach this class from about March, last year.

One of purpose of this class is that understanding policies that make Burmese refugees situation.
Another purpose is looking at inner culture communication. For example, since some American people don't know culture differences between Burma and America, they still don't know the differences between refugees and migrant.

Mmigrant come to United State with private reasons. They are joining family members who already live in United State or they are seeking work as economic immigrants.

Refugees are forced to leave their country. They come from refugee camps. Protesting against government with political reason or practicing religions are the reason why Burmese kicked out of their country. And then, they sent to refugees located to Thailand. And people who are not accepted from Thailand government, are sent to third country such as Australia, Europe and America. However Burmese refugees don't know where are they going to go. Thus they even don't know the culture of a place. It is hard for them to adjust to new culture and even find job.

Ft.Wayne government doesn't financially support Burmese Refugees. But they give information for Burmese refugees to get a job. Also, an agency, 'Catholic Charities of Fort wayne' helps Burmese refugees get an apartment, a food and a job. Nowadays, Ft. Wayne govenment doesn't accept Burmese refugees anymore. But if their family already live here, they can come to Ft. Wayne.

But there is the problem. The process refugees go through is extremely hard and complicated. There are lots of differences among Burma government, Thailand government, United Nation and local places with laws and policies. The local places, like Ft.Wayne, Federal court in United State and even volunteer agency have different policy. For example, United State accept of UN's policy but not accept Thailand's one which how do they are allowing refugees.

Dircksen said, how refugees go through this process and how they lead their life are important and American people try to understand that.

We should try to know Burmese Refugees situation and understand that without biased view toward them. They may have hard time in new place and need a help. If you are IPFW students, taking the Burmese Integration class will help you understand the situation.