In Dead Aid, Moyo engages the reader in the different types of aid around the world and the ways that aid can operate. The refugee crisis is explained as winning the lottery, and is only available for a small, small portion of displaced people.

The resettlement process grants the ability for the Refugees to begin a new life in another country with the promise of shelter, food and the dream of upward mobility for their family. But, there is one major failure of this solution. Being picked as a refugee to be resettled is almost as common as winning the lottery. Less than one percent of the world’s refugees have the opportunity of being resettled. Thus, addressing the potential problem that arises with this process, it grants the hope to be resettled, but to many people’s dismay they may never be considered to be resettled at all.

I have directly viewed the way in which the resettlement process can affect these refugees for the better. In class, we engage in service learning with African Refugees. Although, I have not been able to ask or learn their complete backgrounds, we have been told that each one of them comes from an African nation and moved here to Connecticut. Through my own eyes, each Wednesday, I have seen the way that the resettlement process has opened up a world of new doors for them. Just last week I was working with a few of the refugees on their math homework. The section was rational numbers, and as a politics major I haven’t worked with numbers since my first semester here at Fairfield. As we talked out each of the math problems together, I was reminded, these children were forced to flee Africa, and we are both experiencing the same level of difficulty comprehending this bizarre word problem about balloons. Through the public education they are now receiving in part through the resettlement process, opened doors for them they could have never been exposed to in Africa. They are being fed, cared for, educated, and most have the dream to attend college. It is a truly remarkable experience to witness first hand.

Creating this type of solidarity with the IICONN youth was the goal of this service learning class. To understand the political climate that brought the youth to Bridgeport, Ct and the issues that they faced and are facing. When working together and solving hard math problems we create a greater understanding between each other. As well, this specific instance helps me view the way that the Refugee crisis is something that we must engage in as a major problem around the world.