Lu Zeidan, the Programs Director of iACT, spoke to us about iACT and the refugee family the club is sponsoring this year. iACT teaches English to refugees. Their program is currently on-line only but they are hoping to get back to in person next year. Lu told us about how refugees are those who are forced to leave their countries. There is limited support from the US Government for refugees. They have to repay interest-free travel loans within 9 months of resettlement. This is difficult because of limited earning capacity. Less than one percent of refugees worldwide have been resettled. Lu told us about the different US visas and how difficult it is to get one – the US visa system is very strict. She also discussed the pullout from Afghanistan and the dangers people faced there. There are 2000 refugees in the Austin and SA area this year, with about 1500 of those being Afghans.
Our refugee family is a single mom from Cuba - Anna Lopez, who has a boy and girl, 7 and 9 years of age. They went to Chili legally and then worked their way north to the U.S. She was traveling with her in-laws as well as her children. Her ex was already in the U.S. They were stranded in Mexico for two years, which was not safe; her mother-in-law died of COVID while there. She finally got an asylum visa and is working on getting a work visa. Her ex has helped them and provided them with temporary housing. Let’s do all we can to help this deserving family!