Young Refugees Learn U.S. Ways At Summer Academy
In New York, more than 100 kids from around the world are enrolled in a summer school of sorts. The children are refugees from other countries. Besides learning about math and writing, they also learn how to adapt to life in the U.S.
STEVE INSKEEP, host:
Many American kids are preparing to go to a new school this fall. At the same time, some children are making an even bigger transition: They have come to America as refugees. They're trying to adjust to a new language and a new life. Some refugee children from around the world are attending a summer school in New York, where Jeanne Baron found them.
JEANNE BARON: At the Summer Academy of the International Rescue Committee in New York City, 4- to 8-year-olds are learning a few instructive songs.
Unidentified Children: (Singing); Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine.
BARON: They are from Tibet, Bhutan, Iraq, Ivory Coast - to name a few. These children have just begun the resettlement process in the U.S. as political asylees or refugees.
The Summer Academy is organized just for them - children grappling with English and the New York City subway system, missing the life they left behind, and trying to make sense of it all.�
Mr. HECTOR ESTRADA (Summer Academy, International Rescue Committee): Choose only one topic for your group.
BARON: In this drama class for teenagers, teacher Hector Estrada hands out photographs of civil rights-era protests, cross burnings, and the arrest of Rosa Parks. Theyre applying these lessons to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights - potent information for these students, who were all driven from their countries by war or discrimination.�
Mr. ESTRADA: What human rights may have been violated?
Unidentified Female: The right to consider innocent until proven guilty?
Mr. ESTRADA: Right to remain innocent until proven guilty. Awesome.
Unidentified Female: I think freedom from torture and degrading treatment?
Mr. ESTRADA: Ooh, freedom from torture and degrading treatment. Beautiful. Yes.
BARON: Students re-enact scenes of this period together because learning to collaborate is an important part of the class. Assimilation is not part of the mission. Administrators say these students bring a wealth of experience with them, and the program focuses on strengthening what they already know.
But they also learn skills they need to succeed in an American classroom. Speaking up, teamwork, voicing opinions and tolerating disagreement - these were all new to Tibetan Rigzin Wangyal.
RIGZIN WANGYAL (Student, Summer Academy): And from the games, we know like, how important teamwork and - to learn. They can solve something together better. And sometimes, I think its a good way to learn.�
BARON: Wangyal is one of a few old-timers in the program. Hes been in the U.S. a whole year and a half, and helps out as a leader in training with the youngest students. This first year in the U.S., a lot of good things have happened, says Wangyal. His math skills took off, and hes discovered a talent for drawing. But embracing his new life has not been easy.�
Mr. WANGYAL: To learn the way of New York, this is the hardest thing. Sometimes, like hearing the bad news and like, murder - lots of murder sometimes - so I get scared. Like in the train, some people talk like, they do - racist? - racist, so they call us like, Chinese and stuff. So - but its okay.
BARON: Wangyals twin sister, Tashi Palmo, says shes still adjusting. Shes also at the IRCs Summer Academy as a leader in training, helping others to navigate the changes shes just been through.�
Ms. TASHI PALMO (Student, Summer Academy): They cant do the exact thing that they used to do. So here, they have to feel comfortable to ask any questions they have and to feel free to like, express what they feel like.�
BARON: There are other rewards, too, she says. She watches fellow refugees gain confidence quickly. Its just so great, she says; it happens so fast.
For NPR News, Im Jeanne Baron
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