Basma Alawee presents

“#whereRtherefugees”

About our Service:

Basma, a refugee herself, and now the Florida Refugee Organizer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) will speak about the refugees crisis around the world, refugees’ contributions in the US and how our community can help.

About our Speaker:
Basma Alawee came to the United States from Iraq in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Material Engineering. Her experience of arriving in the United States has made her keenly aware of the issues refugees face. It was very difficult to leave the security of her career (Engineer with the Ministry of Oil), home and family, but the circumstances surrounding the war made her seek a fresh start. Her flexible nature, resilient determination and self-motivation served her well as she made this transition. As she was learning how to find a job, secure housing and complete all of the necessary paperwork, she realized that these tasks are difficult for many refugees. Basma began to volunteer and help refugees at several organizations such as World Relief and Lutheran Social Services. Her work with refugees got recognized and she was selected to be a delegate of Florida at the UNHCR Refugee Congress in December of 2013 and to be on the board of the Refugee Center online to help translate GED/ citizenship program.

Basma’s love of children and math led her to teach at The Foundation Academy for 5 years. She loved introducing students to her passion of math and science as well as organizing them to volunteer with newly arriving refugees.

Basma is attending FSCJ pursuing a degree in accounting technology management. She is also a Florida Refugee Organizer with Florida Immigrant Coalition and We are America, to advocate and lift Florida’s refugees’ voices.

Worship Leader: Meghan Kaminski
Accompanist: Sydney Crisp