Refugee Children Build Community

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/09/nyregion/refugee-youth-build-community-in-an-embracing-space.html
The challenges of assisting refugee children in a new country are vast. In addition to suffering trauma and loss, refugee youths face an interruption in their schooling, sometimes a staggering one. Many lack proficiency with English. And the camp helps students integrate and build their community.

For the summer camp, 128 children from about three dozen countries enrolled. The six-week program prepared the children, who speak more than 20 languages, for the school year, getting them ready to thrive in a new culture and exposing them to American teaching styles and subjects.

“So much of the focus of the program is on building English-language skills,” said Lizzy Rainer, program director for the artists’ group. “The arts create this space so that can continue in a low-stakes environment. Sometimes it can feel high stakes if you’re in a math class or an English class.”

Ms. Rainer added that arts are more than just a safe space: “You’ll build vocabulary. In dance class, the kids learn the parts of the body; in visual arts class, they learn colors and shapes.”

Additionally, the camp has extracurricular clubs that help the students discover new sports. The camp also arranges field trips to museums, parks and bowling alleys, and incorporates mindfulness exercises into the daily schedule to emphasize mental health.

“They are recreating a social environment,” said Ms. Beattie. “They don’t have it and of course they want it. Of course everyone needs it to be well, to be safe, to be advancing.”

Mukamil, who came to New York with his mother and five siblings, said he did not miss the education he received back home and respected the city’s school system.

“School in Afghanistan, I don’t have many good memories,” he said. “They hate the students and it makes the student hate and get bored of school. But here, the teachers teach us in a good way. They make it easy and they never hit us.”

Every year, the summer program culminates in a talent show, produced by Artists Striving to End Poverty. A few weeks ago, performances included acting in a skit, choreographing a dance and performing tricks with a soccer ball.

“It’s all welcome,” said Ms. Rainer. “It’s a space so embracing that they want to share things with their community at large.”

For Mukamil, taking the spotlight allowed him a chance to overcome his chronic shyness. Now imbued with the confidence fostered by the camaraderie at the summer academy, he sang in his native Dari the bittersweet song “Sultan Qalbam.”