12 DEC 2019 · I came to America due to the civil war breaking out in my country. The war was big. The war was between the civilians and the government. Everyone fled the country. The enemy gain control with the usage of guns. It was traumatizing. Everyone fled to different countries and become refugees in those countries. They wanted safety. In Kenya, Somalis went to four different refugee camps. They’re called Dadaab, Hagadera,Kakuma and Ifo .
Everyone fled to those camps. Everyone went where they wanted. At first, there were many issues for the refugees. Many of these refugees fled their homes. They had actual houses in Somalia. So imagine, having a roof over your head and feeling secure and flee to another country, you will be met with struggles. My people’s lives were filled with struggles. After everyone disperse, the went to different camps. Leaving everything they owned and everything they knew. They are refugees who have lost their families. They have lost their father, siblings..- they went through many problems. The UN came in and helped out the refugees. They registered them as refugees and this enabled them to get help from the UN. The Un helped bring lots of people to different countries. They were being placed in Canada, America, Australia, everywhere! It was luck. You didn’t choose where to be placed, it was luck. My family was lucky enough to come to America. When we came to America, we were welcomed with open arms and respect. They welcomed many refugees to the States. They gave us a roof over our head, healthcare and food. Our children were taken to school. They received free education. For elderly people like my mother, a house for her to live in. She got healthcare and her necessities were met.
If we look at the way the children and the elderly are taken care of in America, the eldery community suffers more. The reason for this is because the elderly refugee communities they had a life in their country. They had houses, they were able to wander free in their country, they had a sense of safety and belonging in their county. The reason why the left that life is due to the war. Now, if an elderly leaves their home in America, they could get lost. They don’t their address, where the house is located and also the snow. Weather is different. Whether in Somalia, Kenya and the refugee camps are normal hot weather. Over here, it is cold. It is winter. So for an elderly person, this is a problem to them. If they want to go out, they will slip and fall and break something. If they have an appointment, they cannot go. It is an issue for them. That is the issues amongst the elderly refugee community. But, there are great opportunities and those who got to take advantage of it are the children. Children who grew up in America, they had an education. They went off to college. They made something of themselves. They only ones that seem to be struggling in this new world are the elderlies.
America is good. It is safe. It brings calmness and peace. We live in this place and we are able to feel this. It is better than the country that was torn about by the civil war and everyone feared for their lives. It is better than that. It is way better.