Earlier this month, ORAM and our partner, Microsoft, celebrated Mexican Independence Day at El Jardin de las Mariposas, an LGBTIQ shelter in Tijuana, in a big way. Microsoft generously donated three laptops, software, and other needed items for the shelter and its residents. In addition to this fantastic donation, Microsoft staff members and ORAM's Executive Director, Steve Roth, visited El Jardin to conduct technical training for the LGBTIQ refugees who live at the shelter.
Pictured: A group picture from the digital skills training conducted at El Jardin by Microsoft.
The Microsoft team and Steve met in Tijuana on a Tuesday to finalize materials, meet with the staff at El Jardin, and set up new technology Microsoft gifted the shelter.
The training took place the following day, bright and early in the morning. Throughout the three-hour training, Microsoft staff worked with the residents on how to use this new technology effectively and shared other tips regarding Microsoft programs.
This training and the generous donation wouldn't have been possible without one Microsoft employee. Anton Sarkisov, Intelligent Cloud & Edge Solutions Specialist at Microsoft, learned about ORAM from Steve, who shared with him ORAM's mission and current work to empower LGBTIQ refugees along displacement routes and in transit countries.
Anton shared, "ORAM's purpose resonated with me – having been a refugee and migrant myself in my early years - and with Microsoft's GLEAM, Microsoft's LGBTQIA employee resource group, theme of "Pride has no borders."
Drawing on the connection between ORAM's mission and GLEAM's theme, Anton was critical in bringing ORAM's work to the Microsoft community in Southern California and globally. Through participating in talks with Steve at GLEAM's annual summit, Anton was able to secure critical funding for ORAM.
Pictured: Anton, right, with El Jardin staff holding laptops Microsoft donated.
As Anton continued learning about the many ways ORAM supports LGBTIQ refugees globally, he discovered ORAM's partnership with El Jardin in Tijuana. Steve, planning an on-site visit to the shelter, invited Anton to join. Anton said he would never forget how warmly El Jardin's staff and residents greeted them upon arrival. "The enthusiasm and zeal of El Jardin's patrons belied its modesty of accommodation. I could sense a community of folx eager to find a safe place away from their torments and become productive and verdant individuals."
During that trip, he proposed bringing the digital skills program to El Jardin, where he was met with a resounding "yes!" from the staff and residents. After some planning, the training took place and went "very well," according to Anton. "We had a person at every computer in the house and all very intently learning throughout its 3-hour duration. I can't thank Simon and Ana enough, two translators I recruited from HOLA, Microsoft's Hispanic/Latinx employee resource group, who helped translate the material and help folx with using the Office software. And, of course, my colleague Dan who delivered the training. The three of them knocked it out of the park. We had folx after the training line up to ask follow-up questions."
Pictured: a resident of El Jardin asking a question during the digital skills training.
When asked about his experience with the digital skills training at El Jardin, Anton said, "It was such a pleasure to create a learning opportunity for this community. I am grateful to be of service in this way with my work colleagues."
Thank you to Anton, Simon, Ana, Dan, and the Microsoft community for the generous donation and training for the LGBTIQ refugees at El Jardin!
If you would like to support ORAM's work with the LGBTIQ refugees at El Jardín, make a donation today!