The number of Islamic immigrants fleeing to the United States and European countries has been steadily increasing due to a combination of economic, political and social factors. Most of the time, people do not want to leave their home country, but they have no choice due to war, crime, poverty, and highly repressive governments. The immigration crisis in Europe has gotten way out of control, and it is our job as humans to help in anyway we can. In the fall of 2015, I traveled to Bologna, Italy for four months to conduct a research study on homeless Islamic immigrants, and the discrimination that they face because of their religion. I heard stories of their treacherous journeys, listened to their painful experiences of inhumane prejudice, and learned about the peaceful religion that Islam truly is, not what many people stereotype it to be.
More than anything, I built relationships and formed friendships that I will cherish forever. As a result of my research, I gained a new passion for serving the refugee and immigrant population, and trying to combat the ignorant views and beliefs that are often placed on them.
Therefore, when I returned back to the United States, I could not simply forget about my experience abroad and have the mindset of having already done my “good deed.” Now that I knew the reality of the immigration crisis, there was no way that I was going to simply stop working with immigrants and refugees, and World Relief gave me the opportunity to continue this experience. For the past three months, my main project in World Relief has been teaching English to Halima, a woman from Somalia. When I first met Halima, she did not know any English, but in just three short months, Halima has improved tremendously because of her perseverance and determination. We still have long ways to go, but I have no doubt that because of her confidence, she will one day be fluent.
Halima and I do more than just practice English. She has taught me several words in Somali, and a few weeks ago, she let me try on the traditional attire. We have taught each other that you don’t have to speak the same language to relate to someone. We have not walked in each other’s shoes nor have we taken the same journey. We come from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths, and because of these differences, we are constantly learning from each other and growing to be the understanding, accepting, and loving person whom we are called to be. I am ashamed to admit that before I went abroad to conduct my research project, I did not think about the immigration crisis simply because I could not personally see it for myself. It is a human tendency to ignore conflicts that are not personally affecting us, but it is our job to be more aware of what all is going on in the world. In the words of an immigrant I befriended in Italy, “People look at me and see that I am black and Muslim. They don’t see me for what’s inside of me. You have to stand firm in the face of people who trade in prejudice for peace.”-Anna Grace Claunch, WRM ESL Tutor