My only other contact for Iraqi refugees is the director of the STAR(Student Action for Refugees) program at AUC, Emilie Minnick. She is doing similar research in the field, pertaining to the unique way in which Iraqi refugees have built extremely close-knit communities within Cairo. It seems the challenge remains in being allowed and accepted into thier circle. Emilie has already done this and will be aiding me in this aspect within the next week.
I have enlisted the help of a student who will be able to translate for me during the interviews. Ibrahim will have a better opportunity to connect with these boys since he speaks arabic and boys would be more likely to open up to him, versus a white english speaking American. It is my hope that Ibrahim will reach these boys on a closer level than I would be able to with a paid interpreter.
Ibrahim and I are also using an assignment we recieved in our Participatory Action Research as an avenue for further validation in seeking out Iraqi refugees. Having the ability to say your research is being conducted for AUC ( a widely known university in the area who has done great work in the refugee field) carries more clout than my explanation that I am a foreign student from a foreign university trying to learn about Iraqi refugees. Ibrahim has far more connections than I do within the NGO community, and we hope our project will fit well with my current research.
As for the comparison part of my research, the Sudanese refugees that I am teaching are quickly grasping the concept of essay writing. I hope to move forward in two weeks with thier first real essay assignment that will ask:"What experiences in Sudan and as a refugee in Cairo have affected their world view and future endeavors?" How do you feel about the situation and in what ways do they feel compelled to react?"
It is my hope that I can compare the responses of Sudanese refugees to Iraqi refugees, to see if any correlations exist.
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