Refugee families travel a long journey, often including years in refugee camps, before they are allowed to resettle in the US. Among their many challenges is children missing out on education. When they enroll in school here, catching up while they learn a new language isn’t easy.
JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services, in partnership with the Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (ARYSE) and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh (ICP), have together launched a new after school program to address learning gaps for these children. This program will help refugee youth with their homework and their English, and it will also provide safe, enjoyable activities to introduce them to American culture.
If the first session was any indicator, the program got off to a roaring start; more than 40 children attended. And though it was only registration day, one child insisted on doing her homework with help from a volunteer. In fact, sessions will be mainly staffed by volunteers – people who have signed on out of a desire to help refugee families succeed in their new land. The remainder of the monitors will be staff from JFCS, ARYSE, and ICP, including some interpreters.
Sessions are held right in a large refugee community in Crafton Heights, to alleviate any transportation issues. It is free, and all children living in that neighborhood are welcome. In fact, one of the program’s goals is to facilitate more interaction and friendship between refugee and American children.This program grew out of another volunteer group that gathers together with refugee families every month to have fun, experience the city’s amenities, learn about holidays, and just socialize and make friends. But the Crafton Heights After School Program will have a more academic bent. The first hour will focus on homework assistance and the second hour on academic enrichment activities, sports, and arts.
Volunteer mentors are still needed for this program. Sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., at the PPS Gifted Center at the Mountainview Community in Crafton Heights. For more information, or to volunteer with this or other activities with refugee families, please email Andrew VanTreeck Refugee & Immigrant Volunteer Coordinator (avantreeck@jfcspgh.org), or call 412-904-5970.
Photos: (from the top) a drawing of hopes and dreams; children, parents, staff and volunteers on registration day; Nabiombe (l) and Eca (r) from the Democratic Republic of Congo; Sharifai from Somalia eager to get started!