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| Refugee Transitions Volunteer Newsletter |
July 2009 |
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Greetings!
Just a few weeks ago, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the National Conference for Volunteering and Service held in San Francisco. At this conference, thousands of individuals from all over America converged with a common objective: to establish a new role for service in America.
The First Lady's call to action was loud and clear: in order to build a new foundation for our country, we need to make some changes. She stated, "And while for many of us, it may seem impossible to
squeeze even more time out of the day and do more - because we all have
busy lives - this summer, the President and I are asking you to make
time and do your part. And I promise you won't regret it. So,
wherever your interests lie - whether it's working with young people or
caring for the sick and elderly in our hospitals, or helping to make
the homes in your neighborhood more energy efficient - or any other
issue, the most important thing is for you to get involved."
As Refugee Transitions volunteers, we commend you for making volunteerism a part of your life. The work that you do is so essential to the lives of Bay Area refugees and low-income immigrants. During this so-called "Summer of Service," we ask that you re-engage and think of new ways to strengthen your involvement with RT. You're doing a fabulous job as tutors, mentors, and advocates, but do you have other skills that you'd like to share with Refugee Transitions? Another area of expertise that you think could benefit our organization? What are the skills you would gladly share with us if we gave you the opportunity to do so?Please take the time to reflect on this question, and let us know! We are so appreciative of the work you do! Lots of Gratitude, The RT Team Contact Us |
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FREE EVENT
Refugee Transitions A's Game
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
6:05 pm
Join RT for a group trip to watch the Oakland A's play the Los Angeles Angels. Professional sporting events are very special for newcomer families--everyone always has a great time! First come, first serve tickets. They'll go fast, so email Julia ASAP if you're interested! Bring your student and his or her family for this fun summer event!
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World Refugee Day Events in Oakland and San Jose:
A Big Success!
On June 19th and June 26th, Refugee Transitions took part in two World Refugee Day events held in the Bay Area. Both were a great success! Hundreds of refugees attended the events, along with volunteers, partner organizations, and city officials. Thank you to all our students and volunteers who attended these special celebrations! To read a news article about the Oakland event, please click here.
VIEW PICTURES FROM THE OAKLAND WORLD REFUGEE DAY PICNIC HERE. |
Upcoming
Supplemental Trainings
RT is holding these trainings to give you more information about common issues affecting your refugee students. We urge you to come! Please RSVP by calling our office or responding to this email.
Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B Training
Wednesday, July 8th, 6:30-8:30 pm
RT Sunnyvale Office:
728 W. Fremont Ave., Room 501
The TB Clinic/Refugee Health Assessment Program at
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System will be conducting a
training on tuberculosis and hepatitis. Help your students to better address their personal
health concerns so that each individual may begin to pursue a
productive life under optimal health circumstances.
Please call to RSVP.
Parent Involvement in Education Training (2 DATES!)
Wednesday, July 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm and Thursday, August 20th, 6:00-8:00 pm
RT Oakland Office: 1212 Broadway St
Right above 12th St. BART Station
Navigating
the
U.S. education system is often difficult for refugee families.
The complexities of the system combined with cultural and linguistic
factors impede students' ability to access all the services and
support they need to succeed. In preparation for the
beginning of the school year, this training will provide tools for RT
tutors to
help parents of school-aged youth navigate the educational system in
the U.S.; be involved in their children's education despite
language and cultural barriers; and communicate successfully with teachers.
(Both dates will offer the same information--we hope you can come to
one!) Please RSVP.
Computer Literacy Training
Wed., September 2nd, 6:00-8:00pm
RT Oakland Office: 1212 Broadway St
Right above 12th St. BART Station
RT's
core mission is to support refugees in becoming self-sufficient. In
today's world, being computer-literate is often a necessary step towards
self-sufficiency. This training will address how to teach computer basics to newcomer English language learners, as well as how to use
the computer as a tool to teach English. Please RSVP.
Additional trainings in the
planning stages are:- Teaching financial literacy and community financial resources
- Teaching/tutoring math
- Immigration resources--helping your students update their status
- Citizenship preparation
- Preparing for college
What else would you like to see offered? |
The Land of Golden Dreams:
Myanmar Cultural Show
Sunday, August 9, 11 am - 6 pm
Capuchino High School-Main Theater
1501 Magnolia Ave.
San Bruno, CA 94066
For more information, please visit www.burmeseyouthassociation.org
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Complete This Month's Volunteer Log!
Help us track our students' progress
By filling out your monthly logs, you help keep us abreast of the fantastic work you do. WE READ EACH AND EVERY ONE. This is crucial for our grant reporting and our ability to support volunteers. Submit your log on our website:
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Your Student's Writing Can be Published!
Your students' personal stories
can be published
and used to teach language and literacy development!
Dr. Gail Weinstein, a professor at San Francisco State University, is collecting stories from English language learners to include in her "Learners' Lives as Curriculum" publication. Dr. Weinstein uses learner texts, such as language experience dictation, poems, personal stories, folktales, or interviews, as catalysts for discussing
themes of interest or concern to learners. If you are interested in submitting a text that your student has written, please email Julia at julia@reftrans.org. For more information about this project and to view a student writing sample, please click here. |
Useful Resources for Your Work as an RT Tutor
Materials for Pre-literate Adult Students
"Making It Real: Teaching Pre-literate Adult Refugee Students"
This book reviews
some effective practices for teaching preliterate adult
refugees. It includes information on how to teach speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
Each of the sections provides examples and
descriptions of useful approaches, techniques, and activities.
There is a checklist of language competencies that learners who are
new to the language need to know, a section on teaching multi-level
groups, and information on resources that teachers and service
providers can use. View the whole book here. Summer Resource 2009 Guide
This Resource Guide lists the contact information for various agencies in the Bay Area that promote job development, healthy living, summer fun, and community resources. Please click here.
San Francisco International High
School Opening in August 2009
USCIS Citizenship Test Questions
Have Been Updated
During the U.S. Citizenship Exam, students are asked 10 questions, which are randomly selected from this list of 100 questions. Use the new USCIS flashcards to quiz your clients studying for the exam. To learn about whether your student may be eligible to take this test, please call us at 415-989-2151.
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Digital Television Conversion
With the recent conversion from analogue to digital broadcast television, many refugee families are left without this amenity. Help them get hooked up! Families can apply for a coupon that will reduce the cost of a converter box. It is easy to find a local vendor that sells the boxes. Installation is easy as well. Visit www.dtv.gov for more information. | |
Help RT Expand Its Capacity: What Special Skills Do YOU Have?
We know that many of you have areas of expertise in your professional or personal lives, and we would love to put those skills to use!
Help RT expand its capacity by volunteering to help with specific skills-based projects on an as-needed basis. If a project comes up that looks like a good fit, we'll let you know to see if you'd like to be involved. No strings attached. We just want to tap into one of our organization's greatest resources: YOU!
What are the skills you would gladly share with us if we gave you the opportunity to do so?
Our current needs...
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Technology (website development, database/CRM, social media)
- Languages spoken
- Fundraising
Please contact Julia at julia@reftrans.org if you have skills you would like to share with Refugee Transitions. |
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RT Soccer Tournament and Cultivation Event
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, August 1st, 12-3 pm
Location: Oakland, TBA
Refugee Transitions will be hosting a Soccer Tournament and Cultivation Event on Saturday, August 1st, in Oakland. Please save the date, AND BRING FRIENDS!
This is a great way to introduce your family, co-workers, and friends to the wonderful volunteer work that you do, as well as teach them about Refugee Transitions. Soccer Without Borders will be running the tournament with refugee kids, volunteers, board members, and supporters of RT. Be on the lookout for more info!
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Refugee Transitions T-Shirt Contest!
RT is offering its very first t-shirt design contest!
Please inform your students about this fun opportunity. We are collecting artwork created by students and will select one winner to put on an official RT t-shirt. First prize: $40 gift certificate
Second prize: $20 gift certificate
Submission guidelines:
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Entries can be hand-drawn or
created in the computer on an 8½" X 11" sheet of white paper.
The design should be inspired
by the mission of Refugee Transitions, or the student's own personal
experience as a refugee or immigrant.
Submission deadline: July 30, 2009
Julia Otis
Refugee Transitions
870 Market Street
Suite 718
San Francisco, CA 94102
If you have any questions, please
contact Julia at 415-989-2151 or julia@reftrans.org.
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3rd Annual
Refugee Soccer Camp
Oakland, August 3rd-7th 2009
Sign your students up now!
For the 3rd year in a row, Soccer Without Borders will team up with RT, the Oakland Unified School District, Oakland International High School and the IRC to offer a five day soccer camp for refugee youth ages 5-18. Students get outside for active days of soccer, team-building games, dancing, an outing to a professional soccer game, and more!
For questions or to sign up your student/your student's children, please contact Ben Gucciardi, ben@soccerwithoutborders.org
For a story on the camp in years past, click here.
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Annual Refugee Transitions Summer Camp
Each summer Refugee Transitions offers our youth students the opportunity to participate in a weekend full of fun outdoor adventure. This year, RT will be hosting 2 weekend camping trips in San Francisco proper through the Camping in the Presidio (CAP) Program. These trips are free and staffed by RT employees.
Boys camp: July 24-26
Girls camp: August 21-23
If you are interested in signing your student up, please contact Lauren Markham. Youth in the past have raved about RT summer camp, so email or call soon to ensure your student a spot!
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Community Garden Project
Do you love to garden, have experience growing your own food, know how to set up a compost, or just like to spend time outside?
If yes, then join us in creating a community garden! We are in the preliminary stages of developing a garden in Oakland, behind the apartment complex of several Burmese clients. The landlord has generously donated the lovely space... now we just need volunteers and donated materials!
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Know someone who wants to Volunteer?
 If you know someone who wants to volunteer with Refugee Transitions, we are always looking for more help in the East Bay, San Francisco and the South Bay!
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Thank you, again, for all that you do to serve the immigrant and refugee populations of the Bay Area. You are the heart and soul of what we do!
Sincerely,
Lauren, Laura, Tenley, ZarNi, Grace, Elsa, Nandi, Julia, Nakachi and Christina
(The Refugee Transitions Team) |
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