Refugee Support
Isuroon is a Somali women-led organization with 85% immigrant and refugee female staff. Isuroon is uniquely positioned to offer knowledgeable and compassionate services to Afghan women. Over the last 12 years, more than 10,000 East African women have attended health and parenting workshops organized by Isuroon. Our staff and volunteers are well aware of the hurdles that new refugees must overcome. To help Afghan newcomers make a strong start in Minnesota, Isuroon is offering a comprehensive set of services, including ESL, cultural orientation, education, system navigation, group support, and case management.
Refugee and Asylee Individual Development Account (IDA) Program.
The IDA Program is designed to support individuals’ refugees and asylees, in achieving their long-term financial goals, such as purchasing a house. The program operates as a matched savings account, where participants contribute to their accounts, and these contributions are matched with additional funds. This matching ratio may vary, but typically it enhances the participants’ ability to accumulate savings more rapidly.
Here are some key features and benefits of the Refugee and Asylee IDA Program:
Goal-Oriented Savings
The program encourages participants to save for specific goals, such as homeownership, education, or starting a small business.
Matched Savings
Contributions made by participants are matched with additional funds, providing a significant boost to their savings efforts.
Financial Education
Participants receive financial literacy training and guidance to enhance their understanding of budgeting, credit, and other important financial concepts.
Homeownership Focus
Given your clients' interest in purchasing a house, the program aligns well with their long-term objectives.
Education/ ESL Classes
Isuroon has contracted an Afghan teacher, Laila, who previously taught in Afghanistan, to teach ESL classes on Zoom twice a week for an hour and a half each day. Currently, session 2 occurs on Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 to 11:30, and session 3 occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30. Laila speaks Dari/Farsi and Pashto. Isuroon aims to make learning English as accessible as possible by providing a teacher and interpreter in one. Isuroon utilizes curriculum from resources such as our partners at the National Partnership for New Americans to provide the most relevant curriculum for participating students. Additionally, curriculum from other sources has been implemented to offer well-rounded English language learning lessons. Students will be met at their level and provided with the resources to excel for the duration of the 12-week course.
Cultural Orientations/ Acculturation
Isuroon staff provide cultural acculturation and educational workshops to help new Afghan arrivals adjust to life in the United States. These workshops, led by our social worker Rehan and the Isuroon Burnsville office team, cover various topics such as health, child and youth development, education on parenting and family, housing, citizenship, gender equality, and orientation workshops, among others.
Case Management/Referrals
Based on the needs of our clients, the program coordinator is available to provide referrals for rental assistance, housing, continued education, mental/behavioral health, counseling, and ARMHS services provided by Isuroon’s social worker. Isuroon aims to empower Afghan women through direct services to support their social, health, economic, and educational needs to facilitate their overall integration.
Impact Stories
Since the program’s inception in 2018, Isuroon has worked with over 100 refugees and asylees to help them achieve their savings goals. Congratulations to our clients on meeting your goals for a brighter future!
