1. Give us some history about refugees, immigration, and displacement.
Venezuela has one of the largest populations of refugees in the world. Venezuela citizens have suffered internal violence for decades, which has been caused by illicit drug trade. Paramilitary and guerrilla organizations have fueled the production and sales of illegal drugs in the country, which has made some people, leave the country for USA. The new life in USA requires the refugees to have a refugee identification card, which is used to register their children for school.
2. What has been professional organizations’ response to the displacement?
UNHCR responded to the displacement by designing a micro-credit program that was to be used by Colombian refugees in USA and Venezuela border. The micro-credit program is used as part of borders of solidarity paradigm used by the UNHCR in countries that accommodate the refugees. Most refugees did not have the national identity cards of the country, which limited their employment chances, ownership and funding sources possibilities. The UNHCR implemented another program that would prepare the individuals psychologically for their integration in the new society (Vincent and Birgitte, 212). The psychosocial program provided psychological services to trauma and torture survivors in a group and individual settings.
3. What are the main issues?
The main challenge that UNHCR faced was to help women know their rights, be involved in the local economy and adapt to their lives as refugees. UNHCR started a project that would see women use their experience and skills to start and rebuild their lives. The main problem was that the confidence of these women had gone down as refugees, which made it hard for the project to succeed.
4. What are the arguments on all sides offer up?
The arguments offered by UNHCR is that these women have skills and abilities, which means that they have a better opportunity to start new lives, establishing themselves and living normal lives. UNHCR also claimed that the refugee women would increase their potential if they were provided with creative activities. The idea of UNHCR was to promote team work among women, which would strengthen them as a group.
5. What have been the results?
Different group works helped women start to know each other, and in the process, they recognized what the interests and skills they shared. Understanding each other well increased their sense of belonging, which also made them stronger.
Works cited
Vincent, Marc, and Birgitte R. Sørensen. Caught between Borders: Response Strategies of the Internally Displaced. London: Pluto Press in association with Norwegian Refugee Council, 2001. Print.
