Kaw: Refugee Resettlement Program

Kaw came here as a refugee from Burma two years ago. He was injured in an accident in Burma, resulting in intermittent neurological difficulties. While he was willing to seek employment almost immediately, his fragile health was an ongoing barrier. To keep busy, for more than a year Kaw came to our offices almost daily and volunteered to translate. He speaks almost fluent English as well as Burmese, and he is able to communicate with the vast majority of the Burmese refugees. While we could not afford to hire Kaw, we tried to occasionally help him with his bills and helped him find other temporary translation jobs. With better medical care, his health has also slowly improved.

When we received an AmeriCorps grant, we immediately thought of Kaw. He was already helping us so much with translations, and he had volunteered to learn other tasks as well. He had familiarized himself with the paperwork required by the Department of Social Services (DSS), and was helping other Burmese refugees with their paperwork for DSS. He had also completed training on green card applications, and was volunteering to assist other Burmese in applying for their green cards. When we approached Kaw about his interest in AmeriCorps, he was very excited. This was an opportunity for him to continue helping his community and to become independent from public assistance. The AmeriCorps program offers members a living stipend and an education award. With the education award that he would receive at the end of his service year, Kaw would also have an opportunity to further his education and gain job skills.

Kaw has been consistently reliable and committed. His gentle demeanor makes him approachable for all of the Burmese refugees, and he has become more and more of an expert at each of his tasks. Always willing to help, Kaw is a popular and much appreciated addition to our staff. Moreover, he has impressed many other professionals in the community, possible future employers! Kaw is proud to have gained some financial independence and a brighter future for his wife and one-year-old daughter. With his medical problems largely resolved, we have no doubt that he will be able to find consistent employment after AmeriCorps. Certainly there are many people at CYO who will be happy to provide him with a reference!