Project

I am working with the Iraqi Student Project, which helps refugee and utterly destitute Iraqi youth find higher education in the U.S. We are trying our best to raise consciousness about the plight of refugees, working to build bridges of peace, and helping to educate young Iraqis who will be part of the rebuilding of their homeland. We are really pleased to have Clark offer a tuition waiver for one of our students. But we also need identify people in the area around the university who would be passionate and committed to giving support to the student during the four years he/she is studying. Part of that support is financial, for which we are working on fundraising and sponsorship. But the support group is also responsible for the physical, social, and emotional needs of the student. Some of these young people will be entering college for the first time. Others will have begun college but could not continue because of the hardships in Iraq (or as refugees in Syria or Jordan). Most of the students will have been away from school for a year or more. All of them will be coming from years of war and occupation and violence. Most of the students will have been refugees in Jordan or Syria. They will be good students and they will be skilled in English, but still the transition will be difficult. The support group is people bringing all the care they can to nurture each student. They are there to be friends, to recognize what's needed and help out. It may be as simple as learning to get around town or showing how to get through a northern U.S. winter. But sometimes it will be difficult. Some household in the support group will offer a home for the student (If it is a guy, I'm having him live in my apartment). The support group will be there to greet the student upon arrival, to introduce the student to the admissions people at the school, to introduce the student to how the local community works and where things are, to talk about how things work and how needs are met, to have connections ready so the student can use whatever help the school provides for international students, to know about orientation sessions and (if needed) what help the school has for students with ESL (English as a second language). The support group will invite the student over for dinner in their homes, and will be helping the student stay in touch with the family in Iraq and also in Syria or Jordan. As relationships develop and deepen, the support group will provide a sense of family for the student, include them in outings to interesting places in the area, celebrate holidays and connect them with a religious community if desired, cook together, converse as well as listen. I am writing this and asking you to do what you can. If you need more info, go to iraqistudentproject.org. Meanwhile, I am meeting with some people who have begun forming the support group Wednesday the 28th (Jan.) at noon at Stone Soup (4 King St.), which is right next to Clark. I really would like some of you to come with me, if you will be committed to helping out. If you can't or don't want to come, but still want to do something for us, have some contacts, expertise on fundraising, or anything that might be useful, please contact me.