Semhare Gebre is an advocate for helping refugees from around the world. She earned my degree in international studies with a focus on immigration from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green Ohio. Her own experience as a refugee and memories of culture shock inspire the work that she does. Semhare has volunteered to support refugees in hospitals through translating and helping them better understand the medical terms or conditions. She was also a case manager in San Jose, California for International Rescue Committee (IRC). She helped resettle over 200 refugees a year. Semhare assisted these families with everything from finding housing to enrolling children in school. She worked alongside the refugees to find a job with the goal that they would become independent while building a stable life in their new home. She has also worked with American Pathway, which is nonprofit in Atlanta Georgia, as part of an afterschool program to help refugee children and teens adjust to the school and a new culture. Also, Semhare had the opportunity to work in the IRC in Atlanta as immigration case worker intern, where she saw first-hand the visa process and learned more about the legal pathways for asylum seekers. 

The challenges faced by refugees have been a part of her entire life. Semhare grew up in Africa and was resettled here to the United States of America with my family. Starting a new life here is very hard. She never wants to take for granted the freedom and opportunities available. She is the daughter of refugee parents who fled their home country to give her and her sisters a better life. She wants to give other people, including refugees with disabilities, the same opportunities to freedom and a chance to establish lives in their new home. Stigma within refugee communities is a major challenge to overcome. In her role as the UCCEDD Diversity Fellow, she’ll work directly with refugee families who have a member(s) with a disability. She’ll also teach professionals how to better meet the needs of this population and work with the refugee community at large to counter stigma related to disability.