Aquinas Institute presentation to feature refugees
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is known throughout the United States for the welcome it gives to refugees. When other states have refused to accept people fleeing war, political persecution or natural disaster, Utah has opened its doors. Much of the credit for that goes to Catholic Community Services of Utah and its programs.
On Thursday, May 3, the Aquinas Institute of Saint Joseph Catholic Schools will host “Refugees in Utah,” a presentation on refugee resettlement in Ogden and Weber County. The speaker will be Aden Batar, director of Migration and Refugee Services for Catholic Community Services of Utah.
Batar was one of the first Somali refugees to settle in Utah in 1994. He has spent his life in the service of others who have been driven from their homes and have sought refuge in the Beehive State. He has a unique understanding of the challenges refugees face, having walked in their shoes for much of his life.
Batar worries about the policies of the Trump administration in regards to refugees.
Refugees are “not a threat to this country,” he said. “They go through so much in the camps and all they want is to start a new life. Our country is closing its doors. I make a humble request that the president and Congress to allow us give them the help and resources they need.
“When refugees come to the U.S., they’re looking for a safe place to raise their children,” he continued. “They don’t want a handout; they just need help when they first arrive. They want to contribute, to become self-sufficient, to open businesses, pay taxes and even serve in the armed forces.”
The experience of Weber State University premed student Janvier Sebagabo, a Congolese refugee who came to Utah in 2016, is a case in point.
Sebagabo’s family left the Congo when he was a small child after that country was torn apart by a civil war. He spent 11 years in refugee camps in Rwanda.
“It is a tough life in the camps,” Sebagabo said. “You cannot leave; you cannot work. Everything is given to you by the United Nations. In camp, you just keep depending on the U.N. There is no opportunity to be self-sufficient, to work hard and to contribute back to the community.”
Eventually, Sebagabo’s family – his father Rwengeranya Ngarukiye, mother Elizabeth Royi, nine children and a nephew – received approval to come to Utah, where they were resettled in Ogden.
“Many people don’t know what people around the world are going through,” Sebagabo said. “They should be aware of how life is outside the U.S., aware of refugees and how they don’t have any hope for the future.”
At the Aquinas Institute event, Sebagabo will share the story of his journey from a war-torn country to the camps to his new life in Utah where his family can work and he can receive the education he only dreamed of.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature drumming and dancing with local African dance instructor Deja Mitchell and drummers specializing in African percussion. It will conclude with a reception including traditional Congolese foods.
The mission of the Aquinas Institute of Saint Joseph Catholic Schools is to “provide a valuable opportunity for spiritual, ethical and intellectual growth through the lens of social justice, environmental ethics and academic achievement.”
The Aquinas Institute hosts community-wide events to connect with the greater Ogden community as well as the school community in a positive and enriching way.
“There’s quite a large resettlement of people in this area,” said Cynthia Maher, Aquinas Institute chairperson. “It’s a nice topic to highlight Catholic Community Services and immigration services.”
WHAT: “Refugees in Utah” presentation
WHEN: Thursday, May 3, 6 to 8 p.m.
WHERE; Evans Black Box Theater, Skaggs Fine Art Building, St. Joseph Catholic High School, 1790 Lake St., Ogden
Free and open to the public.
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