The Somali Bantu refugees entered the United States with the odds stacked against them. They arrived here with nothing but their clothing and a few personal items. Some of them even had to leave family members behind. They were in debt before they had a chance to start rebuilding their lives. Each received an airfare bill for their flight to the U.S. The invoices totaled thousands of dollars which the Bantu have no means to pay.

Resettlement agencies such as Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Western New York, The International Institute, and Journey’s End welcomed the Somali Bantu to Buffalo and provided services such as housing, cultural orientation, and job assistance, just to name a few. Still, the Somali Bantu community in Buffalo remains a community in need.

Regardless of the help the refugees have received from resettlement agencies, social service organizations, faith-based charities, public services, and projects like ours, they still struggle to assimilate into American culture. Their language, lack of prior education, and African customs are obstacles to making headway toward an independent life in America. Most are qualified only for menial work in a society where even Americans are having difficulty finding employment and making ends meet. As a result, the refugees are trapped living in urban, high crime neighborhoods.

Other agencies and projects have stepped in to fill gaps or try to continue services. Jericho Road Family Practice, Literacy Volunteers, Hope Refugee Services, the Food Bank of Western New York, Sodexo Inc., and our project helped to extend English language tutoring, provide a basic introduction to health education, and help refugee families to solve problems they encounter along the way. These agencies offer strategies for healthful living in the United States.

But, more needs to be done. Even though helpful services exist, sometimes they are not easily accessible to the Somali Bantu because of language or cultural barriers. For example, some of the Somali Bantu women were escorted by our project team members to the food bank. The process was complicated for them and the women had difficulty providing the required documentation. They needed transportation and an interpreter. They were not successful without an escort. Similar difficulties were also experienced within other outreach organizations.

In summary, there is a great need for continued social services to help the Somali Bantu refugees succeed on their own. Needs exist for:

• Continued education in English language
• Job training
• Dental care
• Childcare services
• Improved housing
• Parenting assistance
• Legal services
• Transportation

The future of the Somali Bantu rests with their children. Providing a secure environment, ensuring access to education, and sustaining a strong family and community network, will be key to their ultimate success and acculturation.