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Shimelba is one of two refugee camps in Northern Ethiopia hosting refugees from Eriterea most of whom have fled their country to avoid conscription into the Eriterean army

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Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
 
Eritrean Refugees in the Shimelba Refugee Camp, Ethiopia 
Prepared by the Cultural Orientation Department of JVA/Nairobi 
 
 
Overview 
The Church World Service Overseas Processing Entity, JVA/Nairobi, is responsible for 
providing cultural orientation to U.S.-bound refugees in the Shimelba Refugee Camp in Ethiopia. 
These refugees are part of a Priority 2 group referred by the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (UNHCR). The group, approximately 6,880 refugees in total, is made up primarily 
of those from the Tigrinya, Saho, and Kunama tribes. 
 
The Cultural Orientation Regional Coordinator at JVA/Nairobi has nearly 10 years experience in 
the United States Refugee Admissions Program, having served at the local affiliate level and as 
the Deputy Representative for Operations at the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) in Accra, 
Ghana. The Cultural Orientation Trainers are Kenyan nationals with experience in intercultural 
communication and education/training. They have a collective proficiency in English, Kiswahili, 
and Somali.   
 
History of Caseload 
The Eritrean refugees first crossed into Ethiopia in May 2000 after the 1998-2000 border 
conflict. Most fled Eritrea to avoid forced conscription into the army, since the Eritrean 
government mandates that all male citizens enroll into national service on their seventeenth 
birthday. (Currently, Eritrea has the world’s largest percentage of a country’s citizenry drafted 
into national service.) National service can either be of a military nature or a civilian, “work 
gang” nature, and the term of service is often indefinite. Many have fled conscription and come 
to Shimelba, a refugee camp just 25 kilometers (air distance) from the Eritrean/Ethiopian border.  
 
UNHCR numbers indicate that, of those refugees in the Shimelba Refugee Camp, approximately 
60% are Tigrinya. Roughly speaking, about half the cases in the P2 group were born in present 
day Ethiopia, were deported by the Ethiopian Government between 1996-2000, and then later 
fled back to Ethiopia. The remainder of the cases are people that were born in present day Eritrea 
(although part of Ethiopia until Eritrean independence), and the first time they ever stepped in 
present day Ethiopia was when they fled. 
 
The Kunama, the second largest group, are generally pastoralists who lived along the disputed 
border and have little to no experience in an urban setting. The Eritrean government accused 
them of having supported the Ethiopian military invasion. Ironically, the Kunama originally 
lived in northern Ethiopia, the area in which the Shimelba Refugee Camp is situated. For some 
Kunama, being in Shimelba is akin to “returning home,” excepting the irony that they now are 
refugees in their own homeland.  
 
 
 
Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba, Ethiopia 

 
 
Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba, Ethiopia 
There are other smaller ethnic groups, namely the Saho, who are predominantly Sunni Muslims; 
the Amhara, a small group of Ethiopians who have intermarried with their Eritrean neighbors; 
and the Afar and Bilen.  
 
Camp Environment 
The Shimelba Refugee Camp is located 33 kilometers southwest of Shiraro, the district 
administrative center of Western Tigray. It is approximately 25 kilometers (air distance) from the 
disputed border with Eritrea and about 1300 kilometers from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. 
 
The camp is run by the Ethiopian government with UNHCR oversight. There is a “central 
committee” that is elected by the camp population, and the committee represents the refugees on 
various issues, liaising with NGOs and the Ethiopian government.  
 
There are two NGOs with presence in the camp, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and 
ZOA, a German nonprofit organization. IRC supplies clean drinking water, sanitation, education 
and support for the disabled and youth; assistance to women who have suffered sexual or 
domestic violence; and life skills training to those who have been approved for travel to the 
United States. ZOA runs some training programs that assist the refugees acquire income 
generating skills.  
 
Refugees are not allowed to work outside the camp, and as a result, fewer than 10% are 
employed. A few have businesses begun from funds sent to them by their relatives in the U.S. 
These businesses have been set up in the central part of the camp and that section of the camp 
has become known as “little Asmara”, after the Eritrean capital. There are beauty salons, 
restaurants, and retail shops and some refugees have been hired to work at these places. Other 
refugees have found employment with UNHCR’s implementing partners. 
 
As so few are able to work, boredom governs the refugees’ daily life. Most spend their time 
playing cards, drinking coffee, chatting in small groups, or watching DSTV transmitted football 
(soccer) games and movies.   
 
Camp life is especially difficult for women. As the population is overwhelmingly male, there is a 
great competition amongst the men for women in the camp. Many times women are forced into 
marriage, face sexual harassment or are raped. There is a vigorous campaign against gender 
based violence in the camp. 
 
CO Classes 
For security reasons, JVA/Nairobi CO staff do not travel to the Shimelba Refugee Camp. The 
refugees are instead brought to Shire, a western Tigray regional hub approximately two to three 
hours drive from the camp, where the team secures a hotel hall or nearby rental building for 
training purposes.  
 
A deliberate effort is made to restrict the class size to an average of 25 to a maximum of 30 
participants so that the training can be more participatory. As is the case in the camps, male 

 
 
Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba, Ethiopia 
participants outnumber female participants, and the trainers make a concerted effort to ensure 
that there is active participation among both genders.  
 
Classes are generally divided by language so as to limit the number of interpreters needed. In 
Shire, interpreters are generally needed for Tigrinya, Saho, and Kunama; they are secured with 
the assistance of the onsite partner, the International Organization for Migration.   
 
The intensive training is conducted over three days, for six hours a day. The objectives of the 
training are threefold: 1) To inform the participants of the processes and systems that will affect 
their resettlement experience; 2) To help participants develop realistic expectations of life in the 
United States; and 3) To inform the participants of the skills and attitudes necessary for a more 
positive acculturation experience. 
 
The training covers all topics outlined in the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) “Welcome to 
the United States” guidebook, and sessions are largely learner-centered and participatory, taking 
into consideration the unique needs of the group receiving training. Trainers use role plays, 
group exercises, debates, pictures, and videos to convey key concepts. As the Kunama have had 
limited exposure to modern life, sessions with them also include a visit to one of the onsite 
restrooms so that they can become familiar with western toilets.  
 
A student workbook developed by JVA/Nairobi is given to each participant. Depending on the 
level of the class, activities from the workbook may be done individually or as part of a group, or 
they may be assigned as homework for the evening. A “Welcome to the United States” 
guidebook is given to each principal applicant.  
 
Sessions end with a post training evaluation conducted to gauge the participants’ understanding 
of the material and to determine which training methods were most effective, and certificates are 
handed out to all participants. 
 
Hopes, Fears and Questions 
Each cultural orientation session begins with the trainer asking three questions: “What do you 
know about the United States? What do you fear about the United States? What do you expect 
from your life in the Untied States?”  
 
As has been previously mentioned, a large percentage of the population in Shimelba fled forced 
conscription into the Eritrean army. For many of these, the knowledge that they must register for 
selective service after arrival is a source of consternation. Others are concerned about the 
American right to own firearms. The trainers inform the refugees of the requirements for 
selective service registration and note that there are U.S. laws put in place to regarding firearm 
ownership. This has helped to address some of their fears. 
 
These refugees, like most, aspire to a better life through education and employment 
opportunities, and there is concern over the current global economic crisis. A recurrent question 
in CO is how the situation will affect their ability to secure employment. They are concerned 
about the short-term financial assistance extended to them by the U.S. government. 

 
 
Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba, Ethiopia 
 
As the Kunama are not familiar with most modern amenities, they have a fear of the apartments 
in which they’ll live in the United States. Most specifically, they have a fear of fires in these 
apartments. To address these fears, the trainers spend significant time discussing home and 
personal safety. They instruct the refugees on how to dial 9-1-1 and to alert emergency 
responders to their emergency, and they show a video regarding the use of 9-1-1 as well as a 
housing video developed by Mercy Housing. 
 
The Saho, who are predominantly Muslim, are concerned about whether or not they will be 
allowed to observe their prayer schedule at the workplace in the United States.  
 
The majority of those from P-2 Shimelba Group are hopeful about the new opportunities that 
await them in the United States. They are eager to find work, and hope to someday continue their 
education. 
 
Strengths and Challenges 
The youthful and determined nature of this caseload is perhaps its most striking characteristic. 
These refugees, a majority of whom are high school educated, are eager to take advantage of new 
opportunities in the United States.  
 
A majority of the caseload is literate with most having had some formal education. Many have 
completed Grade 10 and some have been university educated. As English is taught as a second 
language in most schools, approximately 25% speak some level of English.  
 
The challenges anticipated to be faced by this group are as follows: 
 
Cultural Adjustment 
Greater cultural adjustment will be required of the Kunama refugees who, being traditionally 
pastoralist, are not as exposed to urban life. These refugees have little to no familiarity with 
many modern amenities. 
 
Limited Work Experience 
As the Eritrean government requires that men enroll to national service at the age of 17 and the 
Ethiopian government doesn’t allow refugees to work outside of the camp, many will lack what 
could be described as traditional work experience. It’s important to note, however, that some will 
have worked at small businesses in the camp and others will have received vocational skills 
training. Vocational skills training provided in the camp include carpet making, electrical 
installation, dying and silk printing, tailoring, knitting, embroidery and leather craftwork. It’s 
also important to note that the caseload has expressed an eagerness to work and support 
themselves once in the United States. 
 
Pre-literacy 
The Kunama have had little formal education and approximately 90% are not literate in their 
own language. For these refugees, learning English will be more challenging. 
 

 
 
Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Center for Applied Linguistics 
Overseas CO Program Highlight 
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba, Ethiopia 
Considerations for Domestic Service Providers 
As this group is comprised largely of those who fled forced conscription into the Eritrean army, 
there are a number of single males. It’s anticipated that these males may need to be housed 
together in apartments in the United States. The group is aware of this and they appreciate that 
this will help them to save to save money. The majority of the caseload is employment eligible 
and is anxious to begin work.  
 
Support services, including life skills training, are being provided to those approved for 
resettlement to the United States. These support services are provided by UNHCR implementing 
partners in the camp.  
 
While training has been provided to the Kunama regarding many modern amenities, more 
training will need to be provided after their arrival to the United States. It’s recommended that 
service providers focus on the use of bathroom facilities as many Kunama, Kunama children in 
particular, have a fear of western toilets.