A Liberian refugee woman was terrified when she was confronted by police after leaving her camp to collect fire wood.
Although the situation was staged and the gun pointed at her was a toy, she and other women expressed fear as they acted out scenes common to life at a Liberian refugee camp.
The skit was part of "The Changing Faces of Lansing: Walking in Their Shoes" a simulated refugee camp event held Thursday evening at The Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave.
"Lansing is a United Nations designated refugee resettlement area, and a lot of people don't know that," said Shawna Darnell, a member of the American Red Cross International Social Services Committee. "So we spread the word and create an environment where diversity is encouraged."
Since 1995, 5,027 refugees came to Lansing through the Catholic Social Services Refugee Resettlement Program.
"Historically, there has been a fairly good supply of low-income housing and jobs, so Lansing has been able to provide for newly arrived refugees and all of the basic needs they have," said Peggy Roberts, vice president of operations for Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home.
In 2004, 668 refugees came to Lansing through the program - a large increase from the less than 300 people who came in both 2002 and 2003.
Fewer refugees were allowed to come to the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks due to the heightened homeland security, Roberts said, adding that the government recently allowed more refugees in the country.
The Refugee Services program of Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home sponsored the program with the American Red Cross.
"It's a really good opportunity to explore other cultures as well as understand the refugee community here in Lansing," MSU Spanish senior ?ngel Salinas said, adding most people aren't aware of the large population of refugees in the area.
Salinas volunteered at the event with other members of Phi Iota Alpha, a Chicano and Latino service fraternity.
Along with the Liberian refugees, Somali and Hmong refugees participated in the event. They set up booths with pictures from their countries and displays of traditional clothing and tapestries.
Abdulaziz Osman came to the United States in 1997 after spending five years in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Life in a refugee camp is very difficult because of insufficient food and water, Osman said, explaining that the United Nations provided aid, but not enough. Refugees were abused, he said.
Osman now works at the Refugee Development Center in Lansing, helping new refugees obtain jobs.
"I'm a refugee, and I understand what they need," he said, adding he was glad to volunteer at the event. "It's good to know how the culture of Somalia is.
"Most (people) don't even know where Somalia is or why we came here because of the civil war."
