Kunama woman carrying water in Shimelba Refugee Camp

What is a refugee?

A refugee is "a person outside of his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinions." [1]

Refugees in Cache Valley

Over 300 refugees make Cache Valley their home. [2] They come from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Burma/Myanmar. The majority of them are employed at the JBS meat packing plant in Hyrum, Utah. When they come to the United States, refugees are assigned a specific area to go. No refugees are actually assigned to Cache Valley. [3] Instead, they may choose to come here from Salt Lake City or farther away in the United States.

Voices Project:

The driving force behind the Cache Valley Refugee Project (CVRP) is to help generate awareness within the wider community. By sharing their stories, others may come to understand their trials and struggles as refugees, as well as their triumphs and goals for the future in order to create a stronger community in Cache Valley, Utah.