 In
Karen
The Karen American Communities Foundation (KACF) was formally
organized in December 2007, following two years of coordination and
assistance to help the Karen people of Burma survive the trauma of
resettlement from a jungle war zone to an extremely dissimilar urban
culture. The primary purpose is to provide culturally and
linguistically appropriate humanitarian and social support services to
improve the living conditions and quality of life of the Karen people
from Burma in the United States. Objectives of the KACF include, but
are not limited to, forming local assistance groups for the Karen
communities in the United States and include numerous activities that
respond to the needs of the Karen and other communities of people from
Burma as they have defined them. The KACF is uniquely placed to assist
Karen and other people from Burma to resettle, in that it is formed by
established Karen with language and traditions that are familiar to
the new arrivals thus softening the extreme culture shock. To this
end, KACF endeavors to work in coordination with other entities
upholding similar objectives. The KACF is also well placed to help all
refugees from Burma, regardless of religion or ethnicity, to
transition and integrate into life in the United States because
participants of KACF have gone through the resettlement and cultural
adjustment process themselves. Having experienced the same
conditions both in refugee camps and as newly resettled refugees, they
can provide support and mentoring to newly arrived refugees.
Secondary objectives of KACF include advocating for the rights and
well being of Karen and other resettled people from Burma as well as
assisting Karen communities abroad, with a particular focus on their
humanitarian needs.
The members and Board of KACF are Karen from Burma. KACF is a
legally registered corporation and non-profit 501 (C) (3) and a
charitable organization registered in the State of Maryland; it is by
definition a Mutual Assistance Association and non-political.
o
To gather, analyze, and make available
information about the needs and conditions of resettled Karen people
in the United States
-
Survey population to identify
needs and problems
-
Conduct interviews and home
visits in KACF field office locations
-
Document and investigate
complaints
-
Establish a hotline for
resettled Karen to seek advice and report problems.
o
To provide non
financial and non material support services.
- Offer
advice or connect refugees to assistance and social services
such as health care, legal advice, emergency aid.
- Resolve
problems relating to services provided by resettlement
agencies, government, and other entities.
-
Investigate and resolve serious complaints through local and
national action and advocacy.
- Advocate
for better services to specific field locations or for
broader policy changes.
o
To provide culturally and linguistically
appropriate humanitarian and social support services.
- Provide
services that supplement those provided by resettlement
agencies.
- Provide
services that address gaps not addressed by resettlement
agencies, including safety net programs.
o
To raise funds
- Apply
for Federal and State level grants
- Solicit
in kind and financial donations, with a focus at the state
level.
o
To expand our network
and raise awareness about KACF to new arrivals, community
organizations, the broader NGO community and state and government
entities working on resettlement.
o
To support the formation of Karen local
assistance groups that respond to the needs of the Burmese community
as they have defined them.
o
To support cultural
retention programs that enable Karen to maintain their language and
cultural traditions.
o
To establish
scholarship programs for Karen youth and adults interested in
pursuing academic opportunities.
o
To organize community
youth interaction and exchanges.
o
To conduct outreach
and activities targeted at seniors.
Steve Dun (Chairman)
- Seattle, WA
Biography
Dana Tusaw
- Bakersfield, CA Biography
Wallace Yay
- Dallas, TX Biography
Drucie Ba Thin
- Quaker Hill, CN
Biography
Lay Kler
- Utica, NY
Nu Nu Zan
- Philadelphia, PA
Dr. KoThaw
- Atlantic City, NJ
Rocky Martin - Denver, CO
Saw Josiah
- St. Paul, MN
Myra Dah Gay Paw
- New York, NY
Paw Wah Tamla- Kansas City, MO
- Veronika Martin (Executive Director)
Biography
Copyright © 2008 Karen American Communities Foundation. All
Rights Reserved.
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