Cultural Orientation Resource Center: Overseas Program Profiles: IOM Cairo

IOM Cairo

Date Established The program was established in late 2001/early 2002.

Refugees The majority of students in the CO program are Iraqis living in exile in Amman or in Damascus. In Cairo, the primary caseload is Sudanese, but Somalis, Eritreans, Ethiopians, and Iraqis are also present in much smaller numbers. Iraqis processed in Baghdad do not receive formal CO instruction, but are provided with the Welcome to the U.S. Guide in Arabic at the transit airport in Amman.

The program serves learners ages 15 and older. A childcare facility takes care of infants and young children while CO is in session in each location.

The educational levels of learners vary considerably. Many of the Iraqis participating in CO are well-educated professionals with English language skills, yet others do not have this educational or linguistic background. In addition, most of the program’s Sudanese and Somali learner population have had no formal education.

Training Sites While the Overseas Processing Entity is currently based in Cairo, the CO program is centered in Amman, Jordan. Additional training sites are Damascus, Syria, and Cairo, Egypt.

Staff Amman CO staff consists of three trainers, one admin support staff and the Regional CO Coordinator, while the training staff in Damascus is composed of three trainers and one program coordinator. There is one CO trainer in Cairo as well.

Course Particulars A normal course lasts 15 hours and ordinarily takes place over 3 days. Each day there is a half-hour break, during which participants are served a meal. Ideal class size varies between 20 and 25 students.

Course content is based on The Welcome Guide. Topics are adapted to the interests and needs of each refugee group and are also adjusted based on feedback from PRM and the resettlement agencies in the U.S.

All sessions are carried out in Arabic, with interpreters used for non-Arabic-speaking learners. The training methodology used is experiential and highly interactive: participants are presented with situations and are challenged to find solutions themselves.

Overseas The Process Program Profiles Overseas Service Provider Toolkit CO Program Highlight US Resettlement Lesson Plans and Tools US Refugee Program About COR Center Our Publications Tell a friend	Overseas: Program Profiles IOM Cairo *Date Established* The program was established in late 2001/early 2002. *Refugees* The majority of students in the CO program are Iraqis living in exile in Amman or in Damascus. In Cairo, the primary caseload is Sudanese, but Somalis, Eritreans, Ethiopians, and Iraqis are also present in much smaller numbers. Iraqis processed in Baghdad do not receive formal CO instruction, but are provided with the Welcome to the U.S. Guide in Arabic at the transit airport in Amman. The program serves learners ages 15 and older. A childcare facility takes care of infants and young children while CO is in session in each location. The educational levels of learners vary considerably. Many of the Iraqis participating in CO are well-educated professionals with English language skills, yet others do not have this educational or linguistic background. In addition, most of the program’s Sudanese and Somali learner population have had no formal education. *Training Sites* While the Overseas Processing Entity is currently based in Cairo, the CO program is centered in Amman, Jordan. Additional training sites are Damascus, Syria, and Cairo, Egypt. *Staff* Amman CO staff consists of three trainers, one admin support staff and the Regional CO Coordinator, while the training staff in Damascus is composed of three trainers and one program coordinator. There is one CO trainer in Cairo as well. *Course Particulars* A normal course lasts 15 hours and ordinarily takes place over 3 days. Each day there is a half-hour break, during which participants are served a meal. Ideal class size varies between 20 and 25 students. Course content is based on The Welcome Guide. Topics are adapted to the interests and needs of each refugee group and are also adjusted based on feedback from PRM and the resettlement agencies in the U.S. All sessions are carried out in Arabic, with interpreters used for non-Arabic-speaking learners. The training methodology used is experiential and highly interactive: participants are presented with situations and are challenged to find solutions themselves.	View all Publications CO Program Highlight COR Center Publications Order Form

Overseas: Program Profiles

IOM Cairo

CO Program Highlight

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