Archive for the 'Book Recommendations' Category

New Book Recommendations

Published
by
sholdsambeck
on July 4, 2008
in Book Recommendations
. 0 Comments

At the recent roundtable in Entebbe, many of us found ourselves saying, “Have you read such and such?” It seemed fitting to put together a list of books that were being recommended by our friends and colleagues, all of which impinge refugee matters. So here’s what resulted of getting our heads together in Uganda. Additions welcome.

An RHP Recommended Reading List

Tales of an African Intercessor

To Save a Nation

The Battle to Stop Islam in Sudan
All three by Michael Howard, available from www.kalibu.com (Africa, spiritual warfare)

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda, Philip Gourevitch (Rwanda)

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, Immaculee Ilibagiza (Rwanda)

We Are All the Same: A Story of a Boy’s Courage and a Mother’s Love, Jim Wooten (South Africa)

This Voice in My Heart: A Runner’s Memoir of Genocide, Faith, and Forgiveness, Gilbert Tuhabonye (Burundi)

What Is the What, Dave Eggers (Sudan)

The Lost Boys of Sudan, Mark Bixler (Sudan)

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan, Alphonsion Deng, Benson Deng, Benjamin Ajak, with Judy A. Bernstein (Sudan)

The Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage, Faith and the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Boys Called “The Lost Boys of Sudan”, Joan Hecht (Sudan)

The Lost Boys of Natinga: A School for Sudan’s Young Refugees, Judy Walgren (Sudan, targeted to ages 9-12)

God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir, John Bul Dau, Michael Sweeney (Sudan, Ethiopia)

Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children, Faith McDonnell and Grace Akallo (Uganda)

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)

The Other Side of the Sky: A Memoir, Farah Ahmedi (Afghanistan)

Black Dog of Fate: An American Son Uncovers His Armenian Past, Peter Balakian (Armenia)

Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development, Bryant Meyers (International Development from a Christian Perspective)

King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa, Alan Hockschild (Congo)

The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (Congo)

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Capetown to Cairo, Paul Theroux (Africa)

Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard, Mawi Asgedom (Ethiopia, war with Eritrea)

Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Somalia, Islam)

I Am the Clay, Chaim Potok (Korean War)

Traumatic Stress Training for refugee workers

Published
by
Editor
on February 27, 2008
in Book Recommendations, GENERAL, RESOURCES, Refugee Training and ministry tools
. 0 Comments

It is not news that refugee workers in the field and in agency offices undergo a high degree of stress in their work. But, it is good to know that there is an agency that makes courses available on-line (and free of charge) that refugee workers and field staff can access from anywhere in the world. There are also stress self-examinations, monthly tips and notices of regional training.

The Headington Institute’s mission is to make resources on humanitarian work and traumatic stress available to a wide audience. This free multimedia online curriculum on humanitarian work and stress is being designed for those who are interested in these topics but who may not have immediate access to training and other resources.

This program provides two related types of online training:

Online modules: E-booklets containing study text and personal reflection questions.
E-learning courses: Interactive online courses based on our online modules. These courses can also be downloaded to CD and completed offline.

Three of the courses currently offered online at Headington Institute are:

Understanding and coping with traumatic stress
Humanitarian work is physically and emotionally demanding, and many humanitarian workers struggle to find a healthy balance between the demands of the work and the need to pay some attention to their own well-being. The goal of this module is to provide an overview of traumatic stress as it is related to humanitarian work, and helpful coping strategies for dealing with it.

Trauma and critical incident care
International humanitarian work in the current global context is an inherently dangerous undertaking. Whether it is the result of natural disaster, civil conflict, or domestic crime, few humanitarian workers escape without becoming a target of violence or witnessing violence and its aftereffects. The goal of this module is to explain trauma reactions and explore how to best care for yourself and others after a traumatic event.

On the road again: Coping with travel and re-entry stress
Travel is a normal part of life for many humanitarian workers, but they are not protected from finding it stressful just because they are working for a good cause. This module explores the dynamics of the transitions that humanitarian work demands and coping strategies for dealing with travel stress.

As an additional resource for training, trauma counseling or consulting for your refugee agency or ministry contact Glenn Goss, MSW, at northlinkg@gmail.com.

UN Statistics

Published
by
Editor
on February 26, 2008
in Book Recommendations and research
. 0 Comments

The UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2006 is now available! If you need a paper copy, e-mail to stats@unhcr.org

Europe: Resettlement Guide

Published
by
Editor
on February 26, 2008
in Book Recommendations and Europe
. 0 Comments

The International Catholic Migration Commission is offering a brand-new publication, Welcome to Europe: A Guide to Resettlement. According to their website, this book “contains a comparative review of partnerships between governments and non-governmental organizations involved in resettlement of refugees in Europe.”

Child soldier in Africa: book review

Published
by
Editor
on February 18, 2008
in Book Recommendations
. 0 Comments

Beast of No Nations by Uzodinma Iweala
Beast of No Nations is a journey down the horrific road of one child soldier in an African nation brutally torn apart by war.

Agu is a young boy whose family disintegrates before his very eyes. His mother and sister flee his village before the worst of the fighting begins but his father is killed in battle. He runs for his life and is captured by one of the warring factions. Agu’s only means of survival is to join forces with the rebels; it is a choice of kill or be killed. For months he lives a life of unbearable circumstances as he fights, kills, subsists and tries to reconcile that he is only a boy growing up in Africa.

A compelling read that will break your heart, move you to compassion and give you a glimpse into the life of many children growing up in war-torn countries.The book is available on www.Amazon.com.

Book review written by Linda Moorcroft, director of Christie Refugee Welcome Centre.