BVT Smile

In 2003, roughly 12,000 Somali Bantu refugees arrived in the United States (Betancourt et al. 2015). The most commonly mentioned issues facing the Somali Bantu community include not having money for necessities (rent, clothes, food, and various bills), the loss of children’s moral/religious education, and assistance regarding homework help. 25% of parents also indicated having difficulties in which they speak different languages than their children (Betancourt et al. 2015). Ways in which the Somali Bantu community has received help for these problems include community support, schools working with the child and their parents, and government facilities and support (Betancourt et al. 2015).