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Eritrean Refugee Initiative


Smiling UUCP ERI volunteer Judysmiling UUCP ERI volunteer Judy
The Eritrean Refugee Initiative (ERI) of the UUCP directly assists new refugees from Eritrea by working with resettlement agencies and the established Eritrean community. ERI members offer supplemental English classes, assist in developing a cottage craft business, and befriend individual Eritrean families . By working within the Eritrean community in a positive effort to aid refugees, ERI members can facilitate cooperation and understanding among diverse groups.

Our goals for the 2010-2011 are teaching English classes, organization and implementation of a cottage craft industry, and family mentoring.
Our longer term goals are fund raising, UUCP/Refugee/Eritrean community event, and our big dream is a motel for Eritrean Refugee housing.

If you are interested in this rewarding and deepening ministry, please contact Libby Walker or Brea Burgie, who are in the UUCP directory, or contact administrator@PhoenixUU.org.

You can also find ERI on Facebook

Here is a personal statement from one of the volunteers, Connie Jahrmarkt, who is also UUCP's Music Director.

"More and more information about the troubles of the world come from all sides.
The troubles are humanitarian, environmental and economic.
I know that all these problems will at some point or another be human problems.
What affects one affects all.
 Libby and Julie teaching EnglishLibby and Julie teaching English
I can write letters to representatives, I can march in the streets,
I can vote, I can send money to far away places.
I can lead singing on Sunday morning
and hope that at least one person is renewed and moved
so that they can go out and change the world.
And it was moving on Sunday to hear Rev. Susan say
"no deaths since the Materna opened."
But I cannot get on a plane and fly to the Gulf of Mexico and clean birds.
And I cannot go to Honduras and help save babies.

But, this working directly with the Eritreans
fills the need of actually doing something
using my own two hands and my own words.
It is real. It is something I can do.
Richard, (my husband) says, "You have no idea what a challenge it was to teach the class
when you were not there ... I am so glad you are coming."
So that's what this does.
It gives me something I can do to help people right here in my own community"

UUCP ERI volunteer Julie teaches Eritreans the importance of talking about coffee.UUCP ERI volunteer Julie teaches Eritreans the importance of talking about coffee.

photos courtesy of M. Rosenberg