Refugee camp exhibition to open

of the Congo or Somalia, said Kheir Mugwaneza, program director at the Northern Area Multi Service Center. More than 600 refugees this year have settled in Allegheny County, he said.

When people arrive here, having fled war or persecution, they face challenges with adjusting to a new way of life, learning a new language and accessing the services they need, Mr. Mugwaneza said.

According to the state’s refugee resettlement program, Allegheny County has had 4,883 direct refugee placements from 36 distinct countries between 2001 and 2015, with the largest number coming from Bhutan.

Refugees in Pittsburgh must quickly find work and become economically selfsufficient, despite the challenges of past trauma from leaving their home and sometimes limited English proficiency, said Leslie Aizenman, director of refugee and immigrant service at Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh.

“These people are going through a huge challenge when they first get here, but they come through. It’s very positive for our city,” said Ms. Aizenman. “They are working. Their kids are in school, they start to build their future. It also is a reminder of our own immigrant past.”

“Refugees who are coming here, they are not different from our own families ... They want their children to succeed, they want their children to go to school. They want to go to bed and feel safe and feel like nothing bad is going to happen. With the current political climate, I think it’s important to remember that,” Mr. Mugwaneza said.

Forced From Home opens today at Schenley Plaza in Oakland and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Monday. The exhibition is free.