Publications
Many Cultural Orientation Resource Center materials are available online for viewing or download. To order hard copies, please complete the attached order form, and submit it to the CAL Store at store@cal.org.
Refugee Families and Refugee Youth in the United States: Orientation DVD
2012 Edition of The Welcome Set
| Welcome Guide | Welcome DVD |
| Arabic (coming soon) | Arabic |
| Burmese (coming soon) | Burmese |
| English - 76.4 MB | English |
| Nepali (coming soon) | Nepali |
Previous Edition of The Welcome Set
| Welcome Guide | Welcome DVD |
| Amharic - 12.3 MB | -- |
| Arabic - 5.9 MB | Arabic |
| English - 1.2 MB | English |
| Farsi - 4.3 MB | Farsi |
| Karen - 5.8 MB | Karen |
| -- | Karenni |
| Kirundi - 5.7 MB | Kirundi |
| Nepali - 17.8 MB | Nepali |
| Russian - 7.1 MB | Russian |
| Somali - 5.3 MB | Somali |
| Spanish - 5.4 MB | Spanish |
| Swahili - 5.6 MB | Swahili |
| Tigrigna - 26.6 MB | Tigrigna |
* Contact the CAL Store for videos in VHS format
[Return to list of publications]
Background Materials (in reverse chronological order)
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, March 2013
Information about the refugee crisis, life in the DRC and countries of asylum, background characteristics of the refugees, and their resettlement experiences in the U.S., strengths they bring and the challenges they may face.
Darfuri Refugees, June 2011
Information about refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan, particularly those being resettled from Chad, as well as those in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba Refugee Camp, December 2010
Information about the Tigrinya and Kunama refugees from the Shimelba Refugee Camp, looking at their recent history in Eritrea and Ethiopia, their cultural attributes, and their socio-economic characteristics.
Refugees From Iraq, December 2008
In-depth information about refugee groups from Iraq, including the various ethnic and religious communities, history, conditions in countries of asylum, characteristics of the refugee population, religion, language, education, and resettlement considerations.
Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal, October 2007; Bhutanese Refugees, Supplement.
Discussion of the refugee situation, the need for resettlement, and characteristics of the refugee population. The supplement contains additional information about considerations for the resettlement of Bhutanese.
Refugees from Burma, June 2007
Information about the diverse histories, cultures, refugee backgrounds, and resettlement experiences of refugees from Burma, with a focus on Burmans, Karen, Karenni, and Chin.
The Kunama, April 2007
A look at the experience of the Kunama in Eritrea, their lives in the Shimelba Refugee Camp, and their cultural practices and preferences.
The 1972 Burundians, March 2007
A discussion of the Burundian refugees resettled from the Tanzanian refugee camps in which they had lived since 1972, including reasons for their flight, the need for resettlement, their cultural customs and background characteristics, and their likely resettlement needs.
The Banyamulenge Tutsi, February 2007
Basic information about the Banyamulenge Tutsi in general and the Gatumba massacre survivors in particular.
The Meskhetian Turks, September 2006
General information about Meskhetian Turks and their history, including Meskhetian Turk communities around the world, culture, language and education, and resettlement in the United States, as well as recommended reading.
Liberian Refugees, April 2005
General information about the Liberian people and their history, including life in Liberia, the situation of Liberian refugees in West Africa, language, and resettlement in the United States, as well as recommended reading.
The Hmong, June 2004
General information about the Hmong people, their history, their lives in Laos and Thailand, literacy and education issues, resettlement matters, and information about Hmong languages, including a list of common words, phrases, and sayings.
Muslim Refugees, September 2003
A basic introduction to the worldview of Muslim peoples as manifested in their religion and culture, including topics such as the fundamental tenets of Islam; necessary conditions for successful resettlement; special considerations when working with Muslim men, women, children, and elderly; and a list of resources for both refugees and service providers.
The Somali Bantu, February 2003
A basic introduction to the people, history, and cultures of the Somali Bantu resettled from refugee camps in Somalia.
The Afghans, 2002
An introduction to the people, history and cultures of Afghanistan. It is designed primarily for service providers and others assisting the Afghan refugees in their new communities in the United States.
The Montagnards, 2002
This booklet is a basic introduction to the history, cultures, and resettlement experiences of the Montagnard people of Vietnam.
Cubans, 1996
An introduction to the people, history, and culture of Cuba.
Iraqi Kurds, 1996
An introduction to the people, history, and culture of the Iraqi Kurds.
The Bosnians, December 1995
An introduction to the people, history, and culture of Bosnia, with a particular focus on Bosnian Muslims.
Haitians, 1994
A basic introduction to the people, history, and culture of Haiti.
The Somalis, October 1993
A basic introduction to the people, history, and culture of Somalia.
[Return to list of publications]
Curricula
Extended and Enhanced Orientation Curriculum: This COR Center product is a standardized orientation curriculum addressing a number of topics and issues suited for refugees who have been in the United States for more than 30 days but less than five years.
On Their Way: An Orientation Curriculum for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs) is a 313-page resource to assist with provision of orientation to URMs and to refugee youth in general. Materials include topic overviews, activity plans, necessary materials, suggested variations, links to additional resources, and so forth. Designed for use by overseas orientation providers, this resource is also easily adapted for use by those who deliver orientation in the United States.
Story of Me: An Orientation Workbook for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs) is a 36-page workbook, which participants complete during and after CO, based on variations of activities in On Their Way: An Orientation Curriculum for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors. As with On Their Way, the materials are applicable for URM and general youth orientation.
Refugee Families and Refugee Youth in the United States: Orientation DVD
This orientation DVD contains two videos: A New Day: Refugee Families in the United States (24 mins) and Be Who You Are: Refugee Youth in the United States (9 mins). The DVD was created to assist refugees and refugee providers in learning about adjustment of refugee families and refugee youth to their new lives in the United States. Topics include family adjustment, discipline, school life, home life, and learning English.
