Since November of 2021, a total of 456 evacuees (from many countries such as Afghanistan) have arrived or are scheduled to arrive at Buffalo, New York through the resettlement agencies. Because so many of them fled their country so quickly, there is an urgent need for services to help them. Although these evacuees have received help and support from five local groups (Catholic Charities of Buffalo, the International Institute of Buffalo, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Jewish Family Services of Western New York and Journey’s End Refugee Services) to settle down in Buffalo, they are still in need for more help to become part of the community. In particular, the children need to learn English and get used to the American school system. AYLUS Williamsville is committed to help these evacuee children get used to the new environment and feel like a part of the community when they go to school. The refugees speak Pashto, Arabic, or Swahili. In collaboration with Journey’s End Refugee Services, who has been helping the evacuees to find housing and settle down in Buffalo, AYLUS members helped host a camp during the spring break and teach them English and the basics to communicate with other people through five days of classes. Everyday, AYLUS members went to pick up the children from their hotel and transported them to either the Isaias Gonzales-Soto Branch library or the Journey’s End offices, where the children take lessons and activities. By the end of the day, AYLUS members dropped the children off at the hotel and took them to the room. Day 1 (4/11/22): We introduced ourselves, taught them English body parts, had recess outside for a bit, and organized many other fun activities. Day 2 (4/12/22): We reviewed English body parts, they watched an English movie, and they played on the playground.
Participants: Grant Wang (9 hours) and Andrew Jiang (9 hours)