Participants

The majority of the women participating in ISAW's programs are from Africa. The growing African refugee/immigrant population in Minnesota faces many challenges and barriers in their resettlement process. The needs assessment survey and Immigration Survey 2000 conducted by ISAW revealed that many refugee and immigrant women face multiple barriers to self-sufficiency such as limited or no English language skills, isolation, little or no formal education, lack of support services, non-transferable job skills, domestic violence, lack of access to information and affordable housing, and cultural and social barriers. Housing problems greatly affect family stability and their children’s achievements.

On the other hand, many educated refugee/immigrant professionals face similar barriers due to licensing policies that limit foreign professionals’ access to employment. As a result, the majority of foreign-born African professionals engage in low-wage, bare survival jobs that are neither related to their qualifications nor build their skills. For example, an experienced accountant works as an aide in a mental hospital; nurses work as aides, kitchen and janitorial staff in hospitals and nursing homes; a well known medical doctor is unemployed.

The challenges and barriers that many immigrant families are facing adversely affect their children. In addition, they often enter school with little or no formal educational background and find themselves very lost and isolated. Services that address cultural, linguistic, educational, and social support needs are essential so that immigrant children can be more successful in school, more easily adjust throughout their resettlement process, and achieve a higher quality of life.

Our clients' countries of origin are:

Armenia
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Nigeria
Pakistan
Russia
Somalia
Sudan
Togo
Zambia

Small Businesses Owned and Run by Immigrants

• Bright Future Day Care.
  Phone (612) 706-1692.
• All That You Need Global Specialty Store.
  Call first: (651) 646-5854
  Many beautiful items from around the world—gift items, jewelry, crafts, hairbraiding, and more.

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Testimonial

It was one of the toughest and sorrowful times in my life. God had also used a friend who got me ISAW’s telephone number. Guess who answered the phone? It was my Angel (Agitu). She instantly came to my rescue. She would call me from time to time with words of courage. Agitu has helped me in so many ways, both financially, even to put food on my table, for me and my little girl. She just loves me. She loves people.

She has helped me with my educational opportunity. I think of her as a mother because she treats me like a daughter. Sometimes I want to express my feelings about how much I appreciate all her effort and support, just to keep thanking her but she would like to say “its God that helps me”, she don’t want to accept any credit for helping strangers (abused women) from different countries and cultures.

Blessed is the day I spoke with Agitu. She has done wonderful things in my life and my self-esteem is growing gradually.
Thank God for our new mother Theresa, “Agitu Wodajo”.

Thank you, may God bless you and your family. “Amen”.

-Fola Afolabi