“I am an immigrant and so is my family, and I can relate to finding your place in another country,” Osezua said.

Osezua, who will graduate Dec. 17 with a PhD in Public Health Sciences with a specialization in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, learned through her volunteer work about high drop-out rates among refugee high school and college students. She also discovered there wasn’t much research on youth who have overcome extraordinary circumstances, like living through wars and fleeing their home countries. It was then that Osezua decided to dive into a research study on the meaning of well-being among local refugee youth from the African Great Lakes region.

“Physical, social and mental health, along with culture are embedded in well-being,” Osezua said. “Refugee youth are not only balancing the stress of learning a new language and seeking employment, but also dealing with factors like racism in a new country.”

She learned from surveys and interviews that although youth hope to find a safe place in the United States, the hardships they experience once they get here often re-open old wounds. Her analysis provided insight on how access to education, employment and health services are key to helping youth feel secure. Freedom to achieve goals and be happy was another important part of her findings.

Throughout her research, Osezua collaborated with the Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Lead to Empower Initiative and the Louisville Metro Office for Globalization. This fall she was invited to present her research on refugee mental health wellness in African refugees, in commemoration of the Office for Globalization’s Welcoming Month 2021. She continues to speak to groups throughout Louisville and is using her research to advocate for refugee services.

“We need more collaboration throughout the community. One of my recommendations is to train those who serve refugees and immigrants to better understand the pre-immigration process,” she said.

When she graduates, she will receive the John Binford Memorial Award, which is presented to a doctorate degree graduate who excels in scholarship and has contributed to other areas within the discipline such as leadership, teaching or service.

Osezua earned a MPH from UofL in 2015 and credits the strength of the UofL community in helping bring her goal of achieving a PhD to fruition.

“Some people said no one really cares about research within the refugee and immigrant population, but all faculty were supportive of me – they are willing to support students in their dreams,” she said.

Munyarugero says he was once tied to a tree, beaten and left for dead by troops from neighboring Rwanda who proceeded to steal his cows. Monyarabuga says he was also beaten and his house destroyed before fleeing the country. Ěý

The center’s director, Bibhuti Sar, explains that the primary goal is to help refugees like Munyarugero and Monyarabuga “deal with their numerous problems and issues that come with being tortured.”Ěý

Through the center’s guidance, both Monyarabuga and Munyarugero are healing and adjusting to their new lives in the U.S. Monyarabuga says, “I’m really grateful because now I can sleep.”

Find out more about their story below.

The Bhutan-born Shinchoury was one of 29 people who became U.S. citizens during a Nov. 18 naturalization ceremony in the Brandeis School of Law’s Allen Courtroom.

Law School Dean Susan Duncan said the school was thrilled to host the event and witness the conclusion of an important legal and personal journey for a group of people who chose to become American citizens

U.S. District Judge David Hale, Western District of Kentucky, presided at the ceremony and speakers included UofL’s vice provost for diversity and international affairs, Mordean Taylor-Archer, and law Professor Lars Smith, who is also an associate dean for academic affairs.

Smith shared memories from his own family’s journey to citizenship. Smith and his mother were born in Denmark and he said one of his mother’s greatest treasures was her green card.

“She saw America as a shining beacon of hope,” he said.

“Louisville has become a richer and more vibrant place now that you have joined us as citizens,” he told the newly-inducted Americans.

The poignant ceremony was a chance for the law school’s recently established to see the immigration-to-citizenship process in action. The fellows are addressing the needs of immigrant/refugee populations as their initial focus.

Shinchoury called the naturalization ceremony “amazing and kind of emotional.”

“It makes me feel cared for and loved and accepted,” she said.

. Watch parts of the ceremony in the video below:Ěý

The UofL School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and other community organizations participating in the care of refugees offered health screening assessments along with information on nutrition, dental care, navigating the health-care system and other topics to help refugees settling in Louisville become acclimated to the community.

Photos from the event are .

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