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Does anyone have ideas for how premed and medical students can help with refugees either in the US or abroad? Anyone know any non profits that I could get involved with?
Help with refugees
- Thread starter premed1234567891011
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What state are you from?
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Austin / Dallas / Houston? They're gonna be coming at sanctuary cities hard this year, you could easily find some local opportunities to help out the undocumented workers living in the area. Depends on your views about all that, of course - many are refugees, but not all. How much that matters is for you to decide. And it's not really something you'll be wanting to put on a CV (edit: consensus disagrees with me on this bit, so I'm probably wrong). But it'll way more meaningful than raising $500 to help some refugees in the Mediterranean, or handing out bandaids in the Dominic Republic etc.
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Why wouldn't you want to put that on a CV? Anyway, why is that relevant to my question? I'm not asking bc I want something to add to my resume
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I've worked with refugees quite a bit in the US and abroad over the past 3 years ...I've found that led school interviewers really like asking about those experiences. Check out your local resettlement agency that is responsible for welcoming refugees that come to your area...a quick Google search should point you in the right direction.
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Why not? Unless OP is planning on playing doctor and doing things he isn't trained to do (which would obviously be unethical), this seems like a great thing to put on your CV.
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If your in NY you can volunteer for the international rescue committee (IRC), great non clinical volenteering in my opinion you console refugees about health education and etc to help them live a better life here in the US
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In addition it might be harder to help this people out since what is currently going on. But if you believe in it, then fight for what you want no matter who bad the situation will get. Thats what I'm doing for these talented individuals!
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@Lannister I was thinking about how polarizing an issue it is, a "why u helpin them illegals" kinda thing, but perhaps I'm wrong on that one. Looking back, I probably am.
It's relevant because I say so. Relax, I'm not accusing you of resume padding, it was a quick offhand remark.
It's relevant because I say so. Relax, I'm not accusing you of resume padding, it was a quick offhand remark.
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A lot of the refugees that are flying in from the middle east were approved to come here. Not sure what your comment about illegals means. Personally, if my employer or a medical school has that attitude to those in need/people who are escaping war then that's not the type of place I would want to work or go to school at.
OP, there's nothing wrong with wanting to help refugees. I know in CA we have the IRC but the state department also has a Refugee Health Clinic. You can check if your health state department has something similar. They need volunteers to help refugees apply for green cards, jobs, learn to use the bus system and acclimate to the culture. In Sacramento they also have volunteers teach English which is something you can look into doing. This helps if you speak a second language (like Spanish, Arabic, or Farsi). Best of luck.
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I see what you're saying, but honestly who would want to attend a med school that penalizes applicants for helping refugees?
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What part of Texas are you from? I'm from South TX and we have a well known initiative here. People even travel down here from North TX to help out for a week or so. I volunteer at this church that helps refugees from South America, mostly, who are passing through and are to present before a judge after arriving. They're brought in, we supply them food, clothes, and the chance to shower before they're headed off to their destination. PM me if you're from the area or if you're interested! It's great, I've enjoyed my time there!
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I wasn't talking about the vetted refugees from the middle east. My post was about the ones from the southern border. The undocumented workers...ones that come over illegally...
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Well you could think about working with either. I suggest you research the different issues and find what you are passionate about. Lots of important stuff going on either way and there are many ways you can make a tangible difference. Reach out to your local resettlement agency and/or NGOs. Language is super helpful, then you can also act as a translator, which is often very helpful for these people, but its certainly not a requirement.
Refugees= people who have been determined by UNHCR to have a valid reason to flee their country because the were persecuted or faced the threat of persecution under the 1951 Convention --> have an entirely legal basis to stay. US hosts Syrian, Iraqi, Somali, Sudanese, Bhutanese, Eritrean Afghani refugees, among others. A big area to potentially help out is to assist newly arrived resettled refugees settle in their new community: helping them with English, tutoring children, signing them up for social service programs, driving to dr appointments, etc.
asylum seekers= people who believe they have suffered persecution and come to a country hoping it will grant them asylum/refugee status --> you see this a lot of people from Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) who are fleeing violence, especially unaccompanied youth. Some of them are eventually granted refugee status by the DHS/US government and a legal basis to stay. Others are not granted asylum and are deported. A lot of times, before they are granted asylum they are held in controversial detention camps that are reported to have rather deplorable conditions. A lot of stuff going on in terms of human rights activism (reuniting families, rights of minors) as well as assisting asylum seekers who have been granted asylum once they are in the US, similar to that of resettled refugees.
undocumented workers= people who come to a country without refugee status or any claim to refugee status, they are considered to be "economic migrants" --> they come from a country that is not considered to be persecuting its people and generally do not have a legal basis to stay. Their are many NGOs and activists who work to assist these communities, as they generally have few rights in the workplace/have difficulty accessing healthcare/are subject to exploitation.
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