By Thea Jarvis

Two years ago, three young Cambodian sisters lost their parents in the conflict that was ravaging their homeland. As a result, Seyhavy, Sokunthea and Sochinda Tey were taken to three different refugee camps and remained separated until all had made their way safely to the United States.

This past June, a family reunion took place in College Park, Georgia for the three sisters and their grandmother, Phy Kem, who had not seen her grandchildren for seven years.

Only through the assistance of generous individuals who open their hearts to refugee families can such happy endings occur.

“If more people understood the plight of the refugee, they would respond to a people who are seeking nothing but the opportunity to work, the opportunity for education, the opportunity to know God and his word, and the opportunity to establish fellowship,” said Jill Growney of St. Matthew’s Church in Fairburn.

Mrs. Growney has been personally involved with arriving refugees, teaching English to the children of three refugee families for the past year.

“I can say nothing but that they are grateful, hardworking, loving people,” observed Mrs. Growney.

“Most of the children cannot read their own language. although they can speak it, because they were not allowed to go to school when the Communists took over,” Mrs. Growney explained. “Conditions there were a matter of survival. When there was not enough food, as nine-year-old Ket told me, “they die because they do not have food.”

At Catholic Social Services, Ngeth Kang works with refugee resettlement and is heartened by the record of Cambodians successfully settled in the United States.

“The Cambodian people want to work. They want jobs. They just want a chance for a new way of life where there is an opportunity to work, an opportunity for education and freedom to practice religion and learn the Bible.”

For now basic needs--clothing, dishes, utensils, household goods--are necessary for refugee families establishing themselves in our country.

In addition, according to Jill Growney, sponsors, willing to help refugees find employment, learn the English language, become familiar with shopping options and local churches are needed.

“Funds from the United Way and the World Relief Agency help defray initial housing costs, but most Cambodians find jobs within a short time,” she continued, stressing that volunteers are most welcome in any area of resettlement and that such volunteers need not be full sponsors in order to give assistance.