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Yassin Yassin at work in his Baltimore office.

Staff Spotlight

An Interview with Yassin Yassin, Caseworker

As a former refugee from Eritrea, Yassin has a unique understanding of how the resettlement process works. Though his work as a caseworker for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Baltimore, he is able to share his experiences and assist newly arrived refugees and Asylees as they rebuild their lives.

How did you join the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡?

I’m originally from Eritrea but fled from war to a Shimelba Refugee Camp in Ethiopia in February of 2006. I then applied for the Diversity Lottery Visa in the U.S. 2007. Out of everyone in the refugee camp, one other woman and I were the only two who received the visa. Since I did not have a sponsor in the U.S., I was not able to obtain the visa because I didn’t have the funds necessary to move to the U.S. I was eventually resettled as a refugee in San Jose, California by another organization in 2009 and lived there for 6 months.

I then contacted the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ to help me move to Baltimore where I was resettled as a second immigrant. I began working for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ as an interpreter where I was able to put my knowledge of Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, and Tigre to use. Since 2016, I have worked with refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants as a caseworker, helping those who are in positions similar to what I experienced.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I receive bio data of each client before they arrive to learn more about their background, and look for possible health concerns to see how I can best accommodate them. On the day of their arrival, I greet clients at the airport with a big smile and a warm welcome. I take them to their new, furnished apartment and explain everything that is necessary in order for them to have a comfortable first night: what to do in case of emergency, how the pipes and smoke alarms work and how to use the stove.

Another huge part of my daily work is one-to-one cultural orientation which starts in the clients’ home on the first night of their arrival and continues for their first few months in the U.S. When I visit clients on the day after their arrival, I typically bring them to the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ office in Baltimore for an intake appointment. We apply for social security cards, medical insurance, public benefits, and exchange phone numbers and emails. Within a few weeks, I take the clients to a clinic hospital for a medical examination.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the airport pickup as well as seeing the clients grow as they resettle over a period of months. The clients are always so happy and excited, and in the cases of separated families, the reunions are such a special moment to witness. I love seeing the clients begin working and establishing a rhythm to their life in Baltimore.

What is your greatest achievement/thing you are most proud from your work at the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡?

There is always something to be proud of. My greatest achievement is the satisfaction I receive through my work with the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. Having been in the client’s shoes before, I am proud of being able to work with clients and see them grow during their time with the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. All my life, I work as a refugee.

What would you like people to know about your work?

I would like people to know that refugees and asylees are people who can benefit  the community and the country as a whole. They have the strong will to work hard here in the U.S. because they came from very stressful places. They have a dream and opportunity to grow. This country can benefit from people with dreams who want to change their life and the world. I describe my job to be about helping people from different countries and cultures and I suggest we see each other within our one world, trying to make our dream right.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?

I would travel to anywhere where there are refugee camps. I would love to continue searching for refugees and sharing my story while empowering, motivating and encouraging them that they must be strong and remain hopeful.