A Guide to Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees | Eman Eltigani | TEDxPittsburgh

thank you I don’t know where to start

thank you I don’t know where to start but I will talk about my personal

but I will talk about my personal

but I will talk about my personal experience I have been working for

experience I have been working for

experience I have been working for development in different area of

development in different area of

development in different area of conflict and crisis for almost 13 years

conflict and crisis for almost 13 years

conflict and crisis for almost 13 years as a result of this work I have seen the

as a result of this work I have seen the

as a result of this work I have seen the worst and the best of this world and of

worst and the best of this world and of

worst and the best of this world and of humanity I live in a conflict area and

humanity I live in a conflict area and

humanity I live in a conflict area and 5-star Hotel I witness the conversion of

5-star Hotel I witness the conversion of

5-star Hotel I witness the conversion of the field workers and brutality of the

the field workers and brutality of the

the field workers and brutality of the war lords I confronted the inhumanity

war lords I confronted the inhumanity

war lords I confronted the inhumanity but I also loved it is beauty love the

but I also loved it is beauty love the

but I also loved it is beauty love the beauty of this world and cherish it now

beauty of this world and cherish it now

beauty of this world and cherish it now I feel that I have an immune system that

I feel that I have an immune system that

I feel that I have an immune system that protect me everywhere I go

protect me everywhere I go

protect me everywhere I go although the assumption and a stereotype

although the assumption and a stereotype

although the assumption and a stereotype it seemed to always follow me and

it seemed to always follow me and

it seemed to always follow me and challenge me but I still I believe in

challenge me but I still I believe in

challenge me but I still I believe in the community I believe in a community

the community I believe in a community

the community I believe in a community and I believe that I belong to the

and I believe that I belong to the

and I believe that I belong to the community everywhere I go

community everywhere I go

community everywhere I go 3 word from my experience describe

3 word from my experience describe

3 word from my experience describe refugee anniversary like me its

refugee anniversary like me its

refugee anniversary like me its accommodation assimilation and isolation

accommodation assimilation and isolation

accommodation assimilation and isolation accommodation is the best approach where

accommodation is the best approach where

accommodation is the best approach where we give up something of ourself and we

we give up something of ourself and we

we give up something of ourself and we gain something assimilation is the worst

gain something assimilation is the worst

gain something assimilation is the worst approach where we give up everything

approach where we give up everything

approach where we give up everything that define us and gain nothing

that define us and gain nothing

that define us and gain nothing isolation is a process where we give

isolation is a process where we give

isolation is a process where we give everything and gain muscle some people

everything and gain muscle some people

everything and gain muscle some people think isolation is in a condition that

think isolation is in a condition that

think isolation is in a condition that involves barriers for example

involves barriers for example

involves barriers for example think we’re isolate a dangerous prisoner

think we’re isolate a dangerous prisoner

think we’re isolate a dangerous prisoner or quarantine a contagious patient to

or quarantine a contagious patient to

or quarantine a contagious patient to protect citizen in contrast we think we

protect citizen in contrast we think we

protect citizen in contrast we think we receive danger as a barriers that can

receive danger as a barriers that can

receive danger as a barriers that can involve isolation and isolate refugees

involve isolation and isolate refugees

involve isolation and isolate refugees and immigrants fare protection based on

and immigrants fare protection based on

and immigrants fare protection based on the wrong assumption can isolate us and

the wrong assumption can isolate us and

the wrong assumption can isolate us and create barriers protective barriers can

create barriers protective barriers can

create barriers protective barriers can also restrict our movement and was most

also restrict our movement and was most

also restrict our movement and was most worsening those barriers they can

worsening those barriers they can

worsening those barriers they can restrict our association with each

restrict our association with each

restrict our association with each other’s when I moved to the US I was

other’s when I moved to the US I was

other’s when I moved to the US I was hoping that in this diverse place it

hoping that in this diverse place it

hoping that in this diverse place it would be easier for me to engage and

would be easier for me to engage and

would be easier for me to engage and thrive because there is a loud voices

thrive because there is a loud voices

thrive because there is a loud voices that will come newcomer like me I came

that will come newcomer like me I came

that will come newcomer like me I came and I was not I was patient enough that

and I was not I was patient enough that

and I was not I was patient enough that acceptant will follow however this

acceptant will follow however this

acceptant will follow however this community has preferred to see me as a

community has preferred to see me as a

community has preferred to see me as a Naboo refugee who need a sister when I

Naboo refugee who need a sister when I

Naboo refugee who need a sister when I arrived I had an appointment with the

arrived I had an appointment with the

arrived I had an appointment with the director of one year I went with a

director of one year I went with a

director of one year I went with a company of man of privilege and

company of man of privilege and

company of man of privilege and approached the receptionist and I said I

approached the receptionist and I said I

approached the receptionist and I said I have an appointment with the director

have an appointment with the director

have an appointment with the director the reception is with a gulet with the

the reception is with a gulet with the

the reception is with a gulet with the good intention who happened to be a

good intention who happened to be a

good intention who happened to be a woman from disadvantaged group she

woman from disadvantaged group she

woman from disadvantaged group she turned her back and talked to the man

turned her back and talked to the man

turned her back and talked to the man who accompanied me and she said what

who accompanied me and she said what

who accompanied me and she said what services does she need in a private

services does she need in a private

services does she need in a private moment the man and I we laughed the

moment the man and I we laughed the

moment the man and I we laughed the gentleman he told her that and she said

gentleman he told her that and she said

gentleman he told her that and she said she has an appointment she doesn’t need

she has an appointment she doesn’t need

she has an appointment she doesn’t need a service I can understand the good

a service I can understand the good

a service I can understand the good intention of the women by working she

intention of the women by working she

intention of the women by working she was quitting the exchange by turning to

was quitting the exchange by turning to

was quitting the exchange by turning to be resumed native speaker

be resumed native speaker

be resumed native speaker and asked but she asked based on wrong

and asked but she asked based on wrong

and asked but she asked based on wrong assumption that the only business that I

assumption that the only business that I

assumption that the only business that I can have with the director was to

can have with the director was to

can have with the director was to receive a services imagine how many of

receive a services imagine how many of

receive a services imagine how many of you have thought the same thing how many

you have thought the same thing how many

you have thought the same thing how many of you who thought that a person like me

of you who thought that a person like me

of you who thought that a person like me is just an oppressed women need to be

is just an oppressed women need to be

is just an oppressed women need to be liberated it’s just an a poor person

liberated it’s just an a poor person

liberated it’s just an a poor person need assistant or a vulnerable person

need assistant or a vulnerable person

need assistant or a vulnerable person need support

need support

need support how many of you I’ll tell you one story

how many of you I’ll tell you one story

how many of you I’ll tell you one story after the election result I was

after the election result I was

after the election result I was traveling from DC back home and I

traveling from DC back home and I

traveling from DC back home and I stopped on one of the Travel Plaza while

stopped on one of the Travel Plaza while

stopped on one of the Travel Plaza while I was wandering with my chai latte or

I was wandering with my chai latte or

I was wandering with my chai latte or women with a friendly face and a warm

women with a friendly face and a warm

women with a friendly face and a warm smile insisted on having a conversation

smile insisted on having a conversation

smile insisted on having a conversation with me we have a short conversation and

with me we have a short conversation and

with me we have a short conversation and eye contact and then she hugged me and

eye contact and then she hugged me and

eye contact and then she hugged me and she said I promise I will not be silent

she said I promise I will not be silent

she said I promise I will not be silent and I will protect any women whoever he

and I will protect any women whoever he

and I will protect any women whoever he got I hug her and I promise that I’ll be

got I hug her and I promise that I’ll be

got I hug her and I promise that I’ll be strong and I told her that you know what

strong and I told her that you know what

strong and I told her that you know what I’m not vulnerable and I will not let

I’m not vulnerable and I will not let

I’m not vulnerable and I will not let anyone to harass me I know many people

anyone to harass me I know many people

anyone to harass me I know many people who never met a Muslim or know the

who never met a Muslim or know the

who never met a Muslim or know the struggle of immigrants

struggle of immigrants

struggle of immigrants there are susceptible for the assumption

there are susceptible for the assumption

there are susceptible for the assumption and I simulate the assumption that

and I simulate the assumption that

and I simulate the assumption that everyone like me can create fear and

everyone like me can create fear and

everyone like me can create fear and security around them I may not see that

security around them I may not see that

security around them I may not see that woman again or not even remember her

woman again or not even remember her

woman again or not even remember her face but I know one thing that we both

face but I know one thing that we both

face but I know one thing that we both will keep the promise because we stand

will keep the promise because we stand

will keep the promise because we stand together in a warm voice of humanity

together in a warm voice of humanity

together in a warm voice of humanity but I have to remind myself after the

but I have to remind myself after the

but I have to remind myself after the hundred days that followed the swearing

hundred days that followed the swearing

hundred days that followed the swearing of the president that I’m strong Muslim

of the president that I’m strong Muslim

of the president that I’m strong Muslim women Sudanese and female and above all

women Sudanese and female and above all

women Sudanese and female and above all those work and I will continue to be

those work and I will continue to be

those work and I will continue to be myself regardless of the political

myself regardless of the political

myself regardless of the political rhetoric that encouraged assimilation

rhetoric that encouraged assimilation

rhetoric that encouraged assimilation and force isolation I was happy to walk

and force isolation I was happy to walk

and force isolation I was happy to walk around my neighborhood and to see that

around my neighborhood and to see that

around my neighborhood and to see that my neighbor had a sign written in three

my neighbor had a sign written in three

my neighbor had a sign written in three different language include mine which is

different language include mine which is

different language include mine which is Arabic the science had if I remember

Arabic the science had if I remember

Arabic the science had if I remember very well no matter were you from we are

very well no matter were you from we are

very well no matter were you from we are glad to have you as our neighbor I was

glad to have you as our neighbor I was

glad to have you as our neighbor I was happy to see that sign and I went to the

happy to see that sign and I went to the

happy to see that sign and I went to the neighbor and I said thank you that will

neighbor and I said thank you that will

neighbor and I said thank you that will give me the hope that I will be a good

give me the hope that I will be a good

give me the hope that I will be a good neighbor and together we can celebrate

neighbor and together we can celebrate

neighbor and together we can celebrate the humanity and diversity of this

the humanity and diversity of this

the humanity and diversity of this community

community

community two days ago I returned back from the

two days ago I returned back from the

two days ago I returned back from the Berlin after been visiting the camps on

Berlin after been visiting the camps on

Berlin after been visiting the camps on the border with Syria Lebanon it’s a

the border with Syria Lebanon it’s a

the border with Syria Lebanon it’s a very complicated community in Lebanon

very complicated community in Lebanon

very complicated community in Lebanon you find Islam and Christianity you find

you find Islam and Christianity you find

you find Islam and Christianity you find refugees from everywhere from Serbia

refugees from everywhere from Serbia

refugees from everywhere from Serbia Sudan Palestine and Syria and Lebanon

Sudan Palestine and Syria and Lebanon

Sudan Palestine and Syria and Lebanon the refugees and Lebanese are equal in

the refugees and Lebanese are equal in

the refugees and Lebanese are equal in more or less or equal in population and

more or less or equal in population and

more or less or equal in population and you might think that Lebanese they are

you might think that Lebanese they are

you might think that Lebanese they are accepting this big number of refugees

accepting this big number of refugees

accepting this big number of refugees but like everywhere and here in the US

but like everywhere and here in the US

but like everywhere and here in the US they have a fear of security of fears

they have a fear of security of fears

they have a fear of security of fears and insecurities of that big numbers of

and insecurities of that big numbers of

and insecurities of that big numbers of refugees

refugees

refugees I have to remind the head worker that I

I have to remind the head worker that I

I have to remind the head worker that I was working with that we are home

was working with that we are home

was working with that we are home Italian worker we make no distinction in

Italian worker we make no distinction in

Italian worker we make no distinction in the status on our obligation is to the

the status on our obligation is to the

the status on our obligation is to the community and again I keep remind myself

community and again I keep remind myself

community and again I keep remind myself that I will always as a visitor and a

that I will always as a visitor and a

that I will always as a visitor and a stranger it will be difficult for me to

stranger it will be difficult for me to

stranger it will be difficult for me to tell or for everyone who belong and who

tell or for everyone who belong and who

tell or for everyone who belong and who I select but I believe in one thing that

I select but I believe in one thing that

I select but I believe in one thing that we together can work to build a

we together can work to build a

we together can work to build a community based on mutual respect and

community based on mutual respect and

community based on mutual respect and opportunity for all before I leave I

opportunity for all before I leave I

opportunity for all before I leave I will say that I will continue to

will say that I will continue to

will say that I will continue to accommodate humanity for the sake of

accommodate humanity for the sake of

accommodate humanity for the sake of better community but I my sometime need

better community but I my sometime need

better community but I my sometime need to isolate myself to seek peace and

to isolate myself to seek peace and

to isolate myself to seek peace and century but I will never assimilate I

century but I will never assimilate I

century but I will never assimilate I cannot be you and you cannot be me your

cannot be you and you cannot be me your

cannot be you and you cannot be me your culture is your culture and my culture

culture is your culture and my culture

culture is your culture and my culture is mine but I will do my best to

is mine but I will do my best to

is mine but I will do my best to accommodate humanity for the sake of a

accommodate humanity for the sake of a

accommodate humanity for the sake of a better community and we together can

better community and we together can

better community and we together can accommodate and define humanity and

accommodate and define humanity and

accommodate and define humanity and celebrate diversity I will not take a

celebrate diversity I will not take a

celebrate diversity I will not take a class to lose my accent but I will do my

class to lose my accent but I will do my

class to lose my accent but I will do my best to communicate the story of how can

best to communicate the story of how can

best to communicate the story of how can we accommodate and appreciate each other

we accommodate and appreciate each other

we accommodate and appreciate each other in my community there is no refugee

in my community there is no refugee

in my community there is no refugee there is no immigrant there is just

there is no immigrant there is just

there is no immigrant there is just humility and community began with a

humility and community began with a

humility and community began with a sincere welcome thank you

sincere welcome thank you

sincere welcome thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]