Refugee families familiarize themselves with the community 1 week after arriving in the Wausau region

WAUSAU, Wisconsin (WSAW) – It has been a full week since the first refugee families arrived in the Wausau area through a new resettlement agency and it has been a learning process for everyone involved.

The director of the Wausau office of the Ethiopian Community Development Council – Multicultural Community Center – Wausau – Adam VanNoord said school-aged children would start classes as early as Friday or early next week. English and orientation courses are also provided for adults and children.

Two families in the Kabul region of Afghanistan received a lot of help from their volunteer co-sponsor groups to connect them with basic resources and needs. VanNoord said they also explored and got to know the community.

On Thursday, VanNoord and others from the resettlement agency had the opportunity to see a more experienced agency in action in Green Bay, as they continue to seek the best way to support arriving families.

Families of four and eight arrived at Wisconsin Central Airport on Wednesday afternoon and evening. More families are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The agency needs to grow its co-sponsorship teams, which are groups of people who volunteer to help connect people to resources and prepare for their arrival in their new homes. To apply and learn more, click here. To volunteer or otherwise help, click here.

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