Since beginning my time at the International Rescue Committee, I have learned about the many inequalities that refugees face in Tallahassee. Refugees are forced to start a new life in a new place filled with unfamiliar customs. They go through several long, bureaucratic processes to gain self-sufficiency. Despite already going through these tedious steps, refugees face dismal living situations, poor working conditions, and inadequate access to health services. These inequalities have always existed, but many have recently been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The delays created by the pandemic have created long wait times for doctors’ visits and have made it challenging to find a health facility that will quickly address dire medical situations. Many health facilities refuse to take patients with Medicaid, making it even harder to make an appointment.
For my Capstone Project, I would like to research how national identity affects the experiences of refugees in Tallahassee. The International Rescue Committee in Tallahassee helps refugees from many different countries. All of these individuals have unique traditions, cultures, and languages that they have carried with them from their country of origin. Through research and observations, I seek to learn how national identity plays a role in the lives of refugees in Tallahassee. I am curious to see if one’s national identity can help with adjusting to a new life or if it can be more of a detriment.
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