An evaluation of the effectiveness of church sponsorship of refugee resettlement programs in Moline, Illinois

Degree Name

MA in International and Intercultural Management

First Advisor

Karen Blanchard Ph.D

Abstract

This research is a case study that investigates cultural adjustment issues that Mauritanian immigrants have faced in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio (OH). The research for this study was based upon my own experiences as a Mauritanian immigrant in OH, interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions (FGDs). For the purposes of this research, social challenges were defined as anything that hinders Mauritanians' integration into the greater United States (U.S.) society and makes their journeys as immigrants difficult. The social challenges Mauritanians face cover all aspects of their daily lives. Although this study is based on Mauritanians living in Ohio, the results of this research can be applied to all Mauritanians living in the United States. The research showed that the Mauritanians in Columbus and Cincinnati, OH experienced a variety of social adjustment problems, including difficulties in finding and keeping employment, obtaining legal permission to reside and work in the U.S., and interacting with non-Mauritanians, including other blacks and Muslims. The research also showed that the Mauritanians were largely responsible for the problems they encountered as immigrants in the U.S. Their near-refusal to learn English, their near-refusal to interact with other minority populations in the U.S., including other Muslim and black populations, and their desire to preserve elements of the tribal cultures of their home countries, have caused the Mauritanians to live in very isolated communities in Ohio.

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