U.S. BAHÁ'Í REFUGEE OFFICE Bahá'í National Center, 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (847) 869-9039 • Fax (847) 733-3545 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES BUDDY SYSTEM 1. PURPOSE Brings together American Bahá'ís and refugees from around the globe Builds bridges of understanding, cross-cultural learning, and friendship Eases the transition into American life for the refugee 2. WHO PARTICIPATES Refugees/Newcomers Definition according to the 1951 signing of the United Nations Convention on the State of Refugees The U.S. Congress adopted this definition when it passed the Refugee Act of 1980: A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave his/her homeland and is unable to return because she or he has experienced persecution or has a well- founded fear of persecution. Persecution can be related to race, nationality, religion, political opinions, or membership in a particular social group. Fled their homeland because of persecution or fear of persecution Made difficult decision to leave behind friends, family, possessions, career, home, and country Arrived with nothing more than clothes they are wearing and possibly a few bags of personal belongings Faced difficult challenge of rebuilding their lives far from home Brought knowledge of their culture and hope for the future Buddy We recommend one local Bahá'í family "adopt" one new refugee family Tell your Local Spiritual Assembly if you are interested in being a buddy family for a refugee family Individual Bahá'ís can also be a buddy Should be same sex as newcomer, female befriends female, male befriends male Willing to spend time on a regular basis with a newcomer for a set time of three to six months Do not need any special skills or talent other than genuine love and friendship Bring open heart and willingness to learn and grow Willing to share their knowledge of area where they live Willing to share their friendship 3. HOW AND WHEN DO THEY MEET Buddies and Newcomers An initial home visit should come before phone calls Meet together or have telephone contact once a week for three months Can meet informally in buddy's or newcomer's home Can involve trips to visit other parts of community, for example to shop or to apply for a driver's license At the end of three months, the buddies and newcomers jointly decide whether to continue friendship and, if so, how often to meet 4. BENEFITS Newcomers and Buddies both benefit Get to know someone from another culture Buddies Helps newcomers get established in new home Learn more about Bahá'í administration in this country Learn more about other people, yourself, other cultures Help someone adapt to life in the U.S. Gain new perspective on international events Communicate the spirit of Bahá'í life by sharing time and talents Newcomer Share the story of country and life they left behind Learn and practice speaking English Learn more about the community and the area where they now live Ask questions about American culture Find help in order to meet the challenges of building a new life easier Ease the transition into an American lifestyle 5. GOALS Understanding Help newcomers who are new to community adjust to life in U.S. Buddies have opportunity to share their knowledge of American language, culture, and their community Cross-cultural Learning Goes both ways Buddies learn from new friends about similarities and differences between U.S. and refugee's former country and culture Friendship Contact or meet each other on a regular basis Through shared activities, receive opportunities for deeper understanding Friendship can develop and deepen Buddies and newcomers will give and receive as well as teach and learn 6. EXPECTATIONS Buddies not expected to solve all of refugee's problems Newcomers face many difficult challenges as they build new lives in U.S. In many cases, begin their new life with a lower standard of living and limited job opportunities compared to the buddies Buddies can listen, be supportive, and encourage the newcomer through struggles and joys of building a new life Buddies not expected to provide financial support but each individual Bahá'í is free to make their own decisions if they want to give financial assistance or gifts to a Believer Newcomers should not expect financial assistance from the Bahá'í Community Relationships mutually beneficial Relationships based on respect for each other Requires commitment of regular shared interactions 7. QUALITIES OF A BUDDY Willing to serve others Approachable Respectful of others Flexible Able to laugh Open to making new friends Able to make and keep commitments A good communicator and listener 8. EXAMPLES OF SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP Buddies decide how they will help Can assist Persians to fill out Persian Questionnaires for transfer of their Bahá'í membership to the U.S. Bahá'í Community Can offer transportation to Feasts, Holy Days, Bahá'í School and other events Can coordinate clothes drive in your Bahá'í community for the newcomers Can refer to English as a Second Language classes available in the area and to services as needed The Voluntary Agency is a good source to help with this type of referral for the first 90 days Can coordinate welcome packet from the community of some essential needs if lacking such as dishes, etc. Can offer transportation and/or explanations to obtain Driver's license, etc. Can explain and/or assist to register children for school If newcomers are musicians or artists, can invite them to perform at Bahá'í events Can invite newcomers to join an American family to hold Feast or Holy Day event in home 9. OTHER COMMENTS The larger communities may have a committee with some Persian members that act as a liaison for the new Iranian Bahá'ís. This committee could act as a mediator before problems are sent to the Local Spiritual Assembly. The larger communities could have a community liaison or committee for other large refugee populations. Example: Portland, Oregon has a Hmong-American liaison. 6