An introduction to home-making practices among Karen speaking populations of Buffalo, New York

Abstract

Refugees from all walks of life who have been relocated to numerous countries are often in need of resources to help them settle in and make sense of a new culture and language. This capstone focuses on aiding refugees in integration with a new society. The capstone project takes the form of a bilingual guide book that can be used by refugees on their own as well as used as a teaching guide through multiple institutions such as schools, church outreach programs, and social service programs. The problem with refugee integration services is that there is little funding and flexibility for appropriate programming. This capstone project attempts to help bridge the gap and provide a versatile, cost effective measure to aid in refugee integration in the city of Buffalo, New York, focusing specifically on Karen refugees from Burma with the intention to allow translation into many different languages. The result of this collection of chapters ranging from household and personal health and hygiene to getting help, and finding transportation, is intended to provide answers and background knowledge to refugees on everyday subjects. [ from author's abstract ]