YWCA Helping Afghan Refugees Get Settled In Tulsa

YWCA Tulsa is making sure Afghan refugees living in Tulsa feel welcomed in their new homes.

With over 800 refugees making their way to Green Country, YWCA says it wants to help make the process of turning them into full-time Tulsans much easier.

YWCA Tulsa is offering several employment and language resources.

The non-profit will prepare refugees for job opportunities by helping them build resumes and teaming them with employers on cultural training.

Refugees will also have English classes available to them. They will also have former refugees living in Tulsa as interpreters for the families.

Julie Davis with YWCA Tulsa says having members of the community who, themselves have been there, makes it a lot easier for refugees to get acclimated.

"They have the experience of having come from another country and experience that trauma having to acclimate," Davis said. "So, they can really communicate like, 'I know exactly what you're going through. I've been there myself, and I made it through.'"

Davis says the YWCA will also be teaming up with Tulsa Public Schools to get refugee kids as comfortable with the new surroundings as they can.