The San Francisco Bay Area boasts the 3rd largest population with an estimated population of 46,000 residents. Over 37% of African-born residents are recent immigrants who have entered the United States during the previous 5 years.

The African Immigrant and Refugee Resource Center serves clients from all over Africa- including, over the last twelve months, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Senegal, Nigerian, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and the Gambia- as well as other parts of the world, including Russian, Vietnam, and Bosnia. One need not be an immigrant or refugee to participate in the programs at the African Resource Center; however, job development programs are open to any low-income San Francisco residents. Job referral is open to all.

Our clients reflect newcomers from Africa that include immigrant and refugees from countries plagued by widespread social and political turmoil. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some come to the United States as refugees escaping wars; others are political asylum seekers fleeing from oppressive political regimes; still others immigrate to the United States seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Following are excerpts from some of our recent clients:

"I found myself dismissed from my job as soon as the current political regime came to power in Sudan in 1989. Constantly watched and harassed by security officers, I had no way to find work. The government banned forty newspapers and magazine, putting more than one thousand journalists out of work, may of whom have also since fled the country. In 1990, I escaped secretly to Egypt to join an estimated two to three million Sudanese people exiled there

Life was not easy in Egypt, however, When the Sudanese Human rights organization, an organization based in Egypt, succeeded in getting the United Nations to declare the Sudanese living in Egypt as refugees. I was one of two thousand referred by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for resettlement. I have been here since 1997." -Sudanese client

"I am an Ethiopian. I came to the United States in 1996. I was working there in different organizations in Ethiopia for about 12 years. Due to the dictatorial nature of the past and present government, fear, uncertainty, nightmares, and migration is the current fate of the Ethiopian people. My family is like many other families in Ethiopia who lost all of their property and land. Violations of human rights, ethnic conflicts, lack of freedom, and injustice against the population are widespread. My family is like many others who have lost all of their property and land. Violations of human rights, ethnic conflict, lack of freedom and injustices. Before I left Ethiopia, I turned my efforts and struggles into trying to create democracy there and correct the wrongs done against the Ethiopian people. Because of this, my life was put in danger and I was forced into exile." -Ethiopian refugee

"The Center is very helpful. They have assisted me with my papers and work with Social Services." -Liberian immigrant.