Assisting Refugee Families

Over the years, Community UCC has sponsored refugees, including families from Vietnam and Eretria. They stayed in our homes until we could find suitable housing for them. We then provided them with some furnishings, helped them find jobs and schools for the children, and introduced them to shopping, American style.

The Berhane family from Eretria.

It was in April 1987 that Asefaw Berhane and Tsigei Gebresilassie came to our community from a refugee camp in the Sudan. They had fled war-torn Eretria. CUCC (through Church World Service) sponsored the family which included three young children. A fourth child was born here. They moved to St. Paul, MN, closer to relatives and a larger Eretrian refugee community in July 1988. Tsigei has kept in touch with several of us. She wanted especially to be warmly remembered to Elizabeth Easley, the Dickels, the Scaggs, and the Williams as well as others who helped them with their early adjustment to this country.

In April 2004, Ruth Fisher received the following news from Tsigei: The Berhanes live in their own home in a safe neighborhood in St. Paul. Asefaw works long hours driving a taxi. Tsigei was laid off work in March 2003 during the economic downturn, but she now has part-time housekeeping jobs. Michael, about 23 years old, is a trained auto-mechanic. Samuel, age 20, is attending Central College in St. Paul. Hanna, 18 years, is a freshman at the University of Minnesota, and Sarah, 16 years, is in the 10th grade. Asefaw and Tsigei flew to Eretria for two months recently to visit family; there was a special concern because of her mother's illness.

This was a "peace and justice" project that can be considered a real success!