HIAS Young Leaders Strive to Make a Difference

Posted on Fri, Jan 14, 2005 at 16:03 pm

(New York/Vienna) – A city rich with European history, castles and music, yet for some 540 refugees en route to the U.S. through Vienna, their time there can be a living hell. Per Austrian law, those awaiting refugee processing there are not allowed to access publicly funded programs, children cannot attend school, and adults are not permitted to work. Their lives are put on hold as they look ahead with anxiety and frustration not knowing what the future holds.

The normal processing time for a refugee headed to America was a few months, but now with the back-log in processing time, this has grown to at least six months and often to as long as a year. These refugees cannot go back to the countries they were fleeing and they cannot move forward with their lives. They are stuck in limbo.

This is just one of many causes that have been taken up by a large group of young adults from different countries and diverse backgrounds, all members of the HIAS Young Leaders (HYL).

HYL is an initiative of The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the oldest international migration agency in the United States. HIAS is dedicated to assisting persecuted and oppressed people around the world and delivering them to countries of safe haven, and has rescued more than four and a half million people since 1881.

HYL started in 2002 in response to Argentina’s most recent economic and political crisis. A small group of Argentine Jewish immigrants in their 20s and 30s wanted to find a way to help their family and friends who were still in Argentina and looking for a way out. Given that HIAS had just reopened its office in Buenos Aires, they came to the organization for help. Soon this small group of dedicated and passionate young professionals and students launched an e-mail campaign that raised over $2,000 for Argentine migration assistance. Inspired by their success, they organized a fundraising party, attended by over 120 people.

The group continued to grow and evolve, reaching beyond the Argentine community and incorporating Jewish young professionals and students from around the world to help other refugee and immigrant populations. Since its inception the group has grown to over 500 members, held over 30 events and raised close to $60,000. Additionally a Los Angeles HIAS Young Leaders chapter was launched in early 2004 and the group is poised to start a chapter in Washington DC and other cities in the coming years.

The Young Leaders are publishing a “Resource Guide for New York Newcomers” geared towards helping recent immigrant arrivals become acclimated to life and culture in New York. There is also a resume assistance program where Young Leaders work with immigrants on adapting their resumes for the US job market.

The program is indeed comprised of “young leaders.” These 20 to 30 something young professionals are from such varied fields as medicine, finance, media and public relations. They are from the Former Soviet Union, South Africa, Latin America, Iran, Columbia, England and elsewhere, and many of them are former HIAS immigrants. “The group is really representative of the Jewish Diaspora,” says Lauren Newmark, co-chair of the group.

“As an immigrant from the Former Soviet Union, HIAS helped my family and myself find refuge and freedom in this nation less than two decades ago. I believe that it is now my responsibility to extend the opportunities and benefits I had been granted to those that are in need today,” says Anna Melamud, a HIAS Young Leader. “They came here as children, and are now grown up and they want to give back to the organization that helped them,” says Alex Silberwasser, co-chair of the group and a Jewish immigrant from Colombia. According to Amy Greenstein, who oversees HYL, “It’s a compelling initiative that brings together Jewish immigrants and American born Jews in ways that have not yet been tried in the organized Jewish community.”

The next event is “Shab-e Omid, A Night of Hope,” a party to benefit Jewish and other Iranian religious minorities seeking refuge from persecution. Proceeds from the February 2nd event will go towards improving the dire conditions for Iranian refugees awaiting safe passage to the United States, while stuck in limbo in Vienna.

All funds raised are going towards the purchase of new computers for the “Vienna Refugee Enrichment Program.” This Vienna based program provides immigrants with various activities and classes as they await processing to come to the United States. These include classes in English, history, music, film and art. There are seminars as well, with topics ranging from starting a small business to learning about American social etiquette.

For more information on the Young Leaders program and on the February 2nd event, please call Amy Greenstein at (212) 613-1364.