September 27, 2024
Happy New Academic Year!
With your support, Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (RIT) was able to run several impactful youth initiatives in the summer. Our work goes beyond academics. Based on deep conversations with students and families, we assisted with several other areas that youth identified as important to their lives and adjustment to the U.S.
Content:
Summer Skill-building in the East Bay
Ringing in the new school year: Interview with Kajal Shahali, RIT Sr. Youth Program Manager
Welcoming new volunteers
RIT Youths participating in Youth Barista Training hosted by 1951 Coffee.
Reflecting on summer Youth Engagements:
Driving: We’re proud to present RIT’s DMV permit course, which is offered in both Spanish and Dari (two of our students’ most common languages). It was designed specifically for newcomer youth to gain a deeper understanding of driving rules and regulations. The course helps youth to pursue diverse employment opportunities while emphasizing safety on our streets.
Job Skills: RIT held our second Youth Barista Training with our friends 1951 Coffee (pay them a visit!) 15 students from Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Honduras learned about the origins of coffee, honed their drink-making skills, and practiced customer service. RIT and 1951 Coffee aim not only to assist students in finding jobs but also to help them, especially youth from coffee-producing countries, build a strong foundation in the specialty coffee industry.
While this skill-building focused on high schoolers, RIT also led Art Activities for Elementary school kids at a summer camp organized by Soccer Without Borders. Centered around themes like friendship and family, these activities were a restful break from soccer-filled days. Access to art and sports plays a crucial role in newcomer children’s well-being and helps with integration into a new community.
RIT staff and youth leaders on a summer field trip to Santa Cruz.
Hear from Kajal Shahali, RIT’s Sr. Youth Program Manager:
After a fun and productive summer, the fall semester has begun smoothly, and newcomer students have been actively participating in our after-school programs at Fremont High School in Oakland.
Last year, 199 immigrant & refugee youth participated in RIT’s after-school and in-class academic programs (30+ class periods each week, including English, Math, Science, History, etc.)
In addition to staff and trained volunteers, three RIT youth leaders returned to continue supporting their peers with homework and assignments. We’re excited and look forward to another joyful and supportive year, and to welcome new youth leaders in the next semester.
RIT is also expanding our programs in Mount Diablo Unified School District (Contra Costa County), to better support newly-arrived Afghan students, particularly high school age. We look forward to fostering a supportive environment and helping students thrive in their new academic and social settings.
RIT staff members (former RIT Youth leaders), with current RIT Youth Leaders
What are youth leaders' roles in RIT’s program at Fremont High?
Youth leaders serve several key roles that contribute to both their personal development and overall program success. Several staff members in the RIT Youth Program are our former Youth Leaders at Fremont High!
1. Peer Mentorship and Academic Support: Leaders help guide their peers through homework, assignments, and academic challenges, offering support in subjects they are strong in. This creates a sense of camaraderie and fosters collaborative learning.
2. Role Models: As returning participants, leaders set a positive example by demonstrating responsibility, perseverance, and leadership qualities, which inspire other youth.
3. Facilitating Activities: Leaders often assist RIT staff in organizing and leading activities, whether it's academic workshops, team-building, or recreation. Their input is crucial in making the activities engaging and relevant to high school youth.
4. Cultural and Linguistic Bridges: Youth leaders come from diverse backgrounds, helping bridge language and cultural gaps for newcomers. This makes the transition into the program and school easier.
5. Leadership Development: By taking on these responsibilities, youth continue to develop essential leadership, communication, and organizational skills. This prepares them for future opportunities both within and beyond the program.
6. Community Engagement: Youth leaders often represent their peers in larger school or community initiatives, advocating for the needs of newcomer students and helping to ensure their voices are heard.
May 2024: The RIT Youth team including staff, volunteers, and youth leaders along with Newcomer Educational Support & Transition (NEST) students at Fremont High School celebrating the last day of school.
Newcomer youth are strong, resilient, and an integral part of our community. RIT is proud to partner with these remarkable individuals, not only to provide support but also to elevate their skills, leadership abilities, and ideas. Together, we aim to bring their talents to the forefront of our community and systems, helping to shape a brighter future for the Bay Area.
Volunteer Corner
We would like to warmly welcome our new cohort of RIT volunteers to our community. 8 volunteers are being placed at our site-based programs (Fremont High School in Oakland, San Francisco International High School, Mission High School in San Francisco, and RIT Newcomers Hub in Oakland). The remaining volunteers are being matched one-on-one with newcomer students. The current cohort of volunteers collectively speak 16 languages!! We are grateful to you all for your partnership to welcome and support newcomer students.
RIT Conversation Series 2024: Part 3
Our next conversation will take place on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 (next week)! The guest speaker will be Dr. Amy Argenal, RIT’s Board Chair; and Assistant Teaching Professor of Community-Engaged Research and Learning Sociology Department at the University of California Santa Cruz. Dr. Argenal will discuss root causes of migration and will also share about her experiences and recent trips to Honduras and El Salvador. Please join us! Link to register: bit.ly/rit-conversation-2024
To all RIT volunteers, supporters, and friends - we hold you in our hearts. We are grateful for your support in welcoming newcomer friends and neighbors to the Bay Area.
With gratitude,
RIT Team