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World Refugee Day falls on June 20 every year and was established in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the . This holiday sheds light on the unique lived experiences of refugees and celebrates the ways in which they have shaped the world around us. The ̽����ѡ’s (̽����ѡ) global theme for World Refugee Day this year is “Refugee Changemakers,” highlighting the remarkable—and every day—ways that refugees influence art, food, ideas, policy, and all areas of our culture. 

At the ̽����ѡ in New Jersey, more than 3,000 individuals this fiscal year have been supported through a comprehensive set of services offered across multiple departments. Increased capacity and provision of services have been transformational to client success at the ̽����ѡ in NJ. Success, often conceptualized as achieving a major goal or accomplishment, is most tangible in the everyday. For refugees and immigrants looking to rebuild their lives, it is often the seemingly small successes that are instrumental to their goals.  

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The ̽����ѡ in NJ staff reflected on how important it is to lend compassion to clients in difficult times to help them achieve their milestones. 

Nathalie Leonardo, the Intensive Case Manager Supervisor, believes that success is when a client feels comfortable navigating systems on their own. There are clients who are enrolled in ICM for a little longer. During this length of time, it is crucial for all service providers to lend compassion to clients as they learn to navigate the various processes. She shares:

“Personally, client success is when clients feel confident to initiate their requests and become more familiar with the resources they’ve been connected to.” Helping them get to that level of comfort involves taking the time to understand their perspective by building trust and respect.  

Monica Indart, the Clinical Supervisor of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services Department, shares how:

“sometimes clients are afraid to hope. Psychotherapy can open up a lot of avenues for them to achieve success as they decide it. That could mean reuniting their family here as one measure of success. One client wants her daughter to see her new apartment. It is wonderful to see how clients are striving to make peace with the past and have hope for their future.” 

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Success for clients is also stability.  

Hiba Qaraman, a Casework Supervisor in the Intake and Casework department, believes that stability is very important for clients to become their own changemakers.

For clients at the ̽����ѡ in NJ, stability can at times be hindered by unpredictable and quickly changing circumstances. Hiba explains “You always have to be prepared for the unexpected and be ready to problem solve and find a way forward when challenges arise. We’re having to find short-term solutions in the absence of more comprehensive solutions.” 

Fortunately, with increased funding and staff, the ̽����ѡ in NJ has the capacity to help connect more clients with the resources and services necessary for feeling safe and secure in their new homes. The large team of Caseworkers that Hiba supervises in the Intake & Casework Department assist individual clients or households to set goals based on the main needs identified and to determine the next steps to achieve those goals.  

On a personal level, Hiba shares that: 

“Success for me is linked to making progress. Every day we achieve small wins that are a step towards progress for our clients and it’s important to celebrate those wins no matter how small.”  

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One client is currently taking Intermediate English Classes at the ̽����ѡ in NJ. She enjoys working one-on-one with her tutor who helps her memorize and strengthen her vocabulary. Community is very important to her. She found community at Church, where, after a difficult year of being here, they helped her find a sense of belonging, comfort, and safety. She is so proud of her children, who are enjoying school and even assisting their peers by confidently providing interpretation. They especially enjoyed participating in RYSA. As a mother, she feels proud that she can learn from her kids.  

Refugee Assistance Morris Partners () also helped her family feel more integrated through their different programs and supported them with finding food if there were delays with food stamps. For her, success means being free, with her children, in all aspects: health, mental, emotional, and physical. She is excited to see her children's futures blossom. Success, from her perspective, means the opportunity to guide, to find community, and to feel tranquility in her nucleus. In the future, she looks forward to learning English and finding a job that suits her needs and schedule. 

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Whether it be through cultivating compassion, finding stability, or creating a sense of community, it is clear that there is no singular definition of success at the ̽����ѡ in NJ, but rather, it is found in the daily accomplishments of staff and clients alike. On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the contributions of refugees and their successes that allow them to thrive in their new communities and share their culture and perspective with those around them.