Tucked away in Legacy Park, the Refugee Women’s Network team pours their hearts into the resettled refugee and immigrant women of Atlanta. I had the opportunity to learn about this beautiful organization from the Executive Director Sushma Barakoti who has served with Refugee Women’s Network over the last 6 years.
In 1995, a network of motivated refugee and immigrant women across the United States began to dream of connecting newly resettled women to career opportunities. A few established women in the Atlanta area imagined starting an organization to create a more accessible world for refugee women. A few years later, the Refugee Women’s Network was born. Since becoming an established non-profit in 1998, they’ve worked tirelessly as the foremost Georgia organization to serve resettled refugee women. Their mission inspires and equips refugee and immigrant women to become leaders in their homes, businesses, and communities.
For many of us, the refugee population in our community may be “out of sight, out of mind” but according to The UN Refugee Agency, tens of thousands of refugees and immigrants have come to Atlanta over the last 50 years. Georgia resettles an average of 2,500-3,500 refugees per year. Women and girls make up almost 50% of these groups. The city of Clarkston is considered the most ethnically diverse square mile in America. Passion to see the refugee community in Atlanta be integrated has led to the development of many organizations that partner to support these resettled families.
The journey to resettling in a new country is rigorous. Displaced refugees escape the dangers in their homeland and flee to neighboring countries where they wait lengthy periods until they are assigned to a new country through international refugee organizations. Applications, in-depth vetting, interviews, background checks, and health screenings are a few of the required hurdles these families face as they hope for a new life. Refugee Women’s Network focuses on empowering women to connect with their new “land of opportunity” and start the journey of putting down roots.
The organization focuses on social adjustment, leadership training, economic empowerment, community health, and civic engagement. Early on, the priority was to provide leadership workshops, a microlending program, and community health education. Community promoters who spoke the language and are known in the refugee neighborhoods were hired to connect with resettled women to promote the programs offered through the Refugee Women’s Network. These promoters are the ears and eyes of the organization, as they live within these communities and build relationships with the women and their families. Throughout the COVID pandemic, many refugees lost jobs, experienced food insecurity, and poor access to health resources. Refugee Women’s Network kept their “boots on the ground” and dedicated time, money, and resources to provide the elements the communities needed. Mental health support was identified as a crucial need during this time, and the Refugee Women’s Network partnered with the Georgia Conservancy to begin a women’s hiking group. During these hikes, a ranger educates on native flora and fauna. The hiking groups provide these women time in nature, connection with one another, and space to focus on themselves.
Many challenges exist for refugee women. Most come from cultures where they stayed home to cook, clean, and raise children while the men worked. Those who did gain higher levels of education in their home country are met with the insurmountable task of meeting U.S. education standards to qualify to work in their fields. But to be a refugee, one must truly have connected with their resilience and grit. The beauty and strength of these women come through their deep commitment to giving themselves and their families a better life.
Refugee Women’s Network partners with many resettled women in the Decatur, Clarkston, and Stone Mountain areas to connect them with resources and training to integrate into their new community. Through their Career Pathway program, Refugee Women’s Network partners with the International School Community to train women with work experience or higher education from their home country to become teachers and child development associates. This program provides reliable income, benefits, education stipends for teacher certification, language training, and mentorship. Additionally, the Chef’s Club program was developed for women to gain business training and launch food businesses to share their cultures’ cuisines throughout the Atlanta community. Women go through training and certifications to be able to cater for events in the community. The goal of this program is to connect women with opportunities to grow their own businesses through catering and partnering with local farmer’s markets. Keep an eye out for their booths at Legacy Park, Decatur, and Emory’s weekly markets!
Passion to see these women succeed fuels the team at Refugee Women’s Network. To read personal accounts of women: https://refugeewomensnetworkinc.org/success-stories.
If you would like to volunteer or donate, please visit https://refugeewomensnetworkinc.org/take-action.
References:
https://www.unrefugees.org/news/five-things-to-know-about-refugees-in-atlanta/
https://www.unhcr.org/us/what-we-do/how-we-work/safeguarding-individuals/women
What is your background?
“I grew up in Nepal. Came to the States almost 25 years ago in 2000. I grew up in Katmandu, studied agriculture in India for my undergrad, and returned to Nepal. I worked in international non-profit organizations including Plan International Nepal and United Nations HIV/AIDS prevention program. After that, I began consulting with various nonprofits and moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a master’s degree. I worked with Women’s Resource Center for over a decade and then moved to Atlanta when my husband was relocated for his job.”
What do you love about Atlanta?
“I am a gardener and the climate allows me to grow anything that I want! When I moved to the States, I really wanted to grow food from Nepal in my own garden. The Atlanta climate allows this, and I have found this is something other immigrant and refugee women love about the climate here as well. They are able to grow foods from their native regions.”
Where do you envision the organization is headed?
I want our programs to teach women to be self-sufficient and independent to start their own businesses.
"We work to address the barriers refugee women face.We want to build trust and create connection- to foster a community of sisterhood."
