By Alaina Fleming, ’23

This semester, I had the great privilege of fulfilling an internship position through the Center for Faith and Vocation. I specifically served Catholic Charities Indianapolis Immigrant and Refugee Services as a Youth Mentor Intern, and this internship could not have come at a better time for me. With all the personal adjustments we have had to make to our daily lives due to COVID-19, I am indescribably grateful for the opportunities and experiences I gained from this internship. I was afforded the chance to speak with some youth refugee clients, and these conversations will forever remind me of the resilience and grit of the many refugee families in the United States.

Throughout my internship journey, I developed a more compassionate heart for all those who have fled their homes and their countries to seek refuge in another location. They must uproot their lives to find the freedom or safety they are being denied. I have come to appreciate the organizations and people that serve this vulnerable population, especially Catholic Charities Immigrant and Refugee Services. This organization advocates for policies that protect family unity and allow newcomers an opportunity to contribute and participate more fully in their communities. CCUSA provides immigrant and refugee families with the housing, employment, education, mentorship, and support they need to adjust to their lives in an unfamiliar country.

Even though the needs of a refugee family are often considered collectively, parents have vastly different experiences than teenagers and young adults. Refugee children, especially those who do not speak English, have difficulties transitioning to American schools; they serve as translators for their parents, even in mature or private conversations; they often are responsible for helping their parents and younger siblings adjust to American customs and lifestyles. So, in order to better understand the unique challenges that this age group endures upon resettlement, I began creating a youth mentorship project that analyzes the commonalities among youth experiences and finds new ways to make this transition less burdensome in any manner. The youth clients that I had the privilege of speaking with presented astounding courage and determination, and these informative conversations will serve as the foundation for creating a program that caters to their specific needs.

This internship has presented me with a new, empathetic perspective and has allowed me to glimpse what life is like in Indianapolis for refugee families. I am very appreciative for all the conversations and opportunities that this internship has brought me, and I will forever hold these experiences and relationships near to my heart.