Client Trip to HMNS

When refugees arrive in America, they frequently come with little more than the clothes on their back. Through our Refugee Services department, IM provides refugees with the tools they need to create a new life for themselves and their families, including English tutoring, job placement services, cultural orientation and school enrollment. However, acclimating to life in America involves more than just financial and social stability – it involves developing a sense of belonging and connectedness to the community.

In that spirit, last week IM invited a group of refugees that had been in America for only a few months to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. A small group of staff members and volunteers accompanied refugee families of various nationalities, including Bhutanese, Chinese and Swahili, to the museum, providing translations and explanations of the exhibits as needed. 

 

When they first arrived at the museum, most of the refugees were quiet and stuck closely to their family members. However, as they walked through the Cockrell Butterfly Center, their attitude quickly changed. The children delighted in the in the indoor rainforest and playroom, solving puzzles and playing games with their siblings and parents as well as American children. The parents visibly relaxed at the sight of their children having so much fun and began snapping photos, admonishing them to smile and quit pestering their sister.

 

At the end of the day, the refugees, volunteers and staff ate a light meal outside the museum and chatted with each other as the kids continued to play. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and it became clear that butterflies and dinosaurs transcend language barriers and cultural differences. To donate to refugee services and make more events like this possible, click here.