Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jim Moldenhauer Joseph Fallah, a graduate student in economics, spoke in the first discussion for the ACED Student Association Community Development Forum Series with his lecture on "Experience Serving the Refugee Community in Liberia" Tuesday afternoon in Williams Hall.

ISU graduate student, Joseph Fallah, spoke on Tuesday, November 13 about his time spent working with the refugee community in Liberia, helping them to find jobs and adapt to an unfamiliar environment.

Fallah's speech was the first in the series of the Applied Community and Economic Development Student Association's Community Development Forum Series.

Fallah began his professional work as a Commercial Officer for the Don Bosco Rehab and Skills Training Program from 1993 to 1995. Then he worked as an Administrative Officer and a Program Manager for Don Bosco. From 1995 to 2001, he worked as a Program Coordinator for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

While working with displaced individuals and refugees, Fallah tried to get them into schools and teach them skills to use in their new locations.

According to Fallah, during the 16 years of war in Liberia, 25 percent of the population became displaced. The workers tried to bring the 750,000 Liberian refugees back to their countries.

One of the troubles faced by refugees is the difficulty of trying to receive a formal education. "When refugees come to countries, they do not have documents," Fallah said.

"You know how difficult it would be for me to stay in America if I could not go to school and I could not work?" Fallah added.

One of the program areas of community development is Infrastructure Reconstruction. While working in Liberia, Fallah managed the reconstruction of 90% percent of the damaged schools with the budget of $1 million.

Fallah said while participating in community development, workers need to take the perspective of the people they are serving and their values. "You should look at how our work helps the larger purpose," Fallah said.

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