Achenese community members participate in a "mind mapping" exercise to determine their vision for the Achenese community in Pennsylvania.
Background
For the past 30 years, the Achenese people who are now working to make Philadelphia their new home had been affected by the conflict between the Indonesian government and the Free Ache Movement (GAM). In spite of small numbers of Achenese admitted as refugees (less than 500 from more than 100,000 of those who fled to Malaysia) or granted asylum in the U.S., the need for support mechanisms for ethnic community self-help is great. In Philadelphia, the community’s interest and ability to mobilize to support new arrivals and any member of the community in need was exceptional when NSC started working with Achenese. United Achenese of America (UAA) is an emerging ethnic community self-help organization and is a primary collaborator and service recipient of NSC’s ethnic self help program.
Project Program and Services
NSC plans to support and encourage development of the existing ethnic community leadership and assist in the creation of an Achenese ethnic community based organization in Pennsylvania. Project activities also aim to foster civic participation and encourage civic engagement within the Achenese community. NSC’s collaborative project with the Achenese community seeks to implement activities to meet the following objectives: ” Provide members of the community with organizational development support; ” Provide English Language Training in the home of a member of the community; ” Support community organized and sponsored activities for youth; “Implement a series of community orientation sessions (small group meetings) to address the information needs of the community; ” Provide interpreter training to English-speaking Achenese community members to ensure that all members of the community are able to access linguistic and culturally sensitive interpreter services.
Utilizing Technical Assistance
Technical assistance to UAA can be provided in the area of organizational development: developing leadership within the community, creating a community-based organization that will unite Achenese communities and assisting in the organizational management and development process. NSC, through its partnership with International Rescue Committee, eagerly looks forward to partnering with the Achenese community to work together to implement this exciting initiative by assisting in the formation of planning committees, participating or sponsoring events and community meetings, and offering support for English language training.
Over the next three years, NSC will work closely with the Achenese community in Pennsylvania and hopes to play a support role in the establishment and success of a vibrant Achenese service and support organization.
Future Plans and Services of UAA
The Achenese community is working to identify the scope and nature of its own ethnic community-based organization. Recent community meetings held in Harrisburg and Philadelphia brought members of the Achenese community together to discuss the possibilities and future plans of the ethnic group and opportunities the project with NSC brings in. Transparency in the activities and decisions of the work of UAA was offered as a key element to successful community participation.
