STUDENTS

Jordan Steiner
Graduate Student
Center on Violence Against Women and Children, School of Social Work

Jordan Steiner is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Social Work whose research interests include school related gender-based violence in West Africa and displaced populations—particularly,  the intersection of gender-based violence issues and displacement. In November 2017, she designed and coordinated Displaced Lives: The Threat of Violence for Refugee, Displaced and Conflict Affected Women, an event funded by Rutgers Global through the Rutgers Global Grants. This panel event—designed for non-expert students, faculty, researchers, organization representatives, and staff—examined gender based violence within refugee and displaced populations related to inequality, social welfare, health, well-being, justice, programmatic response, and institutions. A follow-up event focused on gender-based violence and resettlement is scheduled for Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Institute for Women's Leadership. Social work professor Judy Postmus serves as principal investigator on this grant.

Elizabeth Wehbe
Graduate Student
Department of Childhood Studies, Rutgers–Camden Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

In October 2017, the Middle East Journal of Refugee Studies published "Palestinian Refugee Children: A Review of the Literature" penned by Rutgers–Camden childhood studies graduate student Elizabeth Wehbe. The paper examines the lack of research on the issues faced by Palestinian refugee children and calls for increased study.


ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS

Spark 15
Spark 15 is a grassroots organization comprised of young refugees ages 15–30. Their mission is to advocate for the full integration of refugee and migrant youth. Since its inception two years ago, the group is already making progress with gaining access to post-secondary institutions, with providing language classes, and with sharing their experiences with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at a forum in Geneva. Graduate School–Newark dean Kyle Farmbry is working with members of Spark 15 as part of a Fulbright Scholar Program research project.


GUESTS

Sari Albaaga
Spark 15
Sari Albaaga is a refugee from Libya who came to Malta after war broke out in 2013. He was studying software development at a local university there, and faced many challenges in trying to enroll in another university in Malta to continue his studies. He is a member of Spark 15, a grassroots organization comprised of young refugees ages 15–30. Spark 15 is working with Graduate School–Newark dean Kyle Farmbry as part of a Fulbright research project.

Hourie Tafech
Spark 15

Hourie Tafech is a 25-year-old Palestinian woman who was born and raised in a refugee camp in Lebanon. Her family has been in the same camp, without any civil or political rights, since they fled Palestine in 1948 after the Israeli occupation. She is now in Malta working towards a marketing diploma, but she has run into a long list of hurdles trying to find education. Tafech has visited Rutgers and, in April 2017, discussed needs and solutions for young displaced people at a Rutgers–Newark event, "A Perspective on Refugee Youth & Global Leadership." She is a member of Spark 15, a grassroots organization comprised of young refugees ages 15–30. Spark 15 is working with Graduate School–Newark dean Kyle Farmbry as part of a Fulbright research project.