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Looking for a great way to meet new international friends and get to know the city of Charlotte? Join Doorways, International House’s monthly group for women interested in social and cultural exchanges. Doorways provides a wonderful venue for international women to meet native-born Charlotteans and enjoy monthly programs with lunch afterwards. Outings to museums, theatres, churches, restaurants and other local attractions are part of the regular schedule, as are interesting presentations at International House by local speakers.
Lakana Bikhazi, the volunteer coordinator of Doorways and a native of Thailand, says, “My main objective is to make sure that everyone who comes to Doorways looking for new friends and interesting activities will feel welcomed”, and Lakana’s warmth and enthusiasm have created just that kind of feeling. The annual Christmas luncheons at her home are always a big hit (see photo above). Doorways members are women of all ages and from countries all over the world (including the United States). Any woman is free to join. Annual dues are $45 and support the work of International House.
Doorways meets the first Wednesday of every month at 10am. The next Doorways meeting will be on Wednesday, February 1, at International House with a featured speaker from the American Red Cross.
For more information, contact Lakana Bikhazi at laklouk12@carolina.rr.com or Lara Printz at lprintz@ihclt.org.
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ESL class schedule for 2012
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Our new ESL class series will start on January 9th and will take place every weekday (Monday to Friday) until May 11th at International House on 322 Hawthorne Lane.
Times:
Monday – Friday
10-11am, 11:30-12:30pm and 1-2pm
Monday & Wednesday
6-8pm
Cost:
$25 (includes textbook)
Questions or to register:
Call 704-333-8099 or email: njiron@ihclt.org
For the complete schedule and different levels Click Here >>
 Adult ESL at International House is not your average grammar class!
Students learn real-life skills and apply them to extraordinary
opportunities- such as our most recent field trip to the Bechtler Museum
of Modern Art. This was each student's first visit to a museum!
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Speak English? Want to help change someone’s life?
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International House is seeking volunteer tutors for our English Tutoring Program (ETP). The program helps immigrants and refugees with limited English proficiency prepare for the US Citizenship Exam. A volunteer tutor is matched with an adult student, and both commit to meeting at a mutually convenient time and place for an hour and a half a week to work on English fluency and review American history, civics and national symbols. Tutors are asked to meet with students 15 times between February 27 and June 18 at a library or café.
Volunteers are provided with training and orientation as well as ongoing access to experienced ESL teachers and consultants. The next training session (a two-day training) will be at International House--322 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, 28204--on Thursday and Friday, February 9 and 10, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
If you are interested in volunteering, call us at 704.333.8099, or email njiron@ihclt.org.
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Exchange opportunity to Brazil for thirteen American teenagers ages 15-17 |
The Youth Ambassadors Program with Brazil is pleased to extend an opportunity to talented American young leaders and adult mentors for a three-week summer leadership program in Brazil.
SUMMER 2012 - APPLICATION DEADLINE
FEBRUARY 17, 2012 - 11:59 PM EST
High School Students please click here to apply.
Adult Mentors please click here to apply.
The Program aims to develop a cadre of young adults in Brazil and the U.S. who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to community development, and an awareness of current and global issues. Download more information >>
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From the executive director
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Fresh Starts and New Beginnings
A new year, a new beginning. I love the mixture of New Year’s traditions found around the world. When I lived in Scotland as a child, I remember Hogmanay, or "first-footing." Shortly after midnight on New Year's eve, neighbors pay visits to each other and impart New Year's wishes. Traditionally, First Footers used to bring along a gift of coal for the fire. Fire symbolized the blessing of warmth and shelter, and it also represented a burning away of the old so that new life could emerge. The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the streets and launch fireworks into the night skies. The New Year is also a symbol of renewal in Japan. In December, various Bonenkai or "forget-the-year parties" are held to bid farewell to the problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven and houses are scrubbed. A Spanish ritual on New Year's Eve is to eat twelve grapes at midnight in order to secure twelve happy months in the coming year.
We all yearn for fresh starts and new beginnings. Here at International House, we help hundreds of refugees and immigrants every year as they make a fresh start in a new country. Many left behind lives of unimaginable hardship -- civil war, dramatic escapes, hunger, extreme poverty, political persecution and violence. Newly arrived in Charlotte, they look for a new beginning where they can live without fear and support their families. They want to burn away the problems and concerns of their past and prepare for a hopeful future. They want to be our neighbors and our friends, and they seek opportunity, not a hand-out.
International House is fortunate to help immigrants and refugees with the tools they need for a successful fresh start. English classes and tutoring, citizenship classes, naturalization and family reunification services, and basic life skills workshops are just a few of the ways that we help Charlotte’s newest residents celebrate new beginnings, 365 days a year. We hope you will join us, too. Find out how to become an International House volunteer by attending our informational Open House on January 13th. It’s a great way to start the new year!
By: Denise Cumbee Long
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International Book Club |
The next meeting of the International House Book Club will be on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome!
The book to be discussed will be Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (160 pages) IRAN.
“A memoir of growing up as a girl in revolutionary Iran, Persepolis provides a unique glimpse into a nearly unknown and unreachable way of life... That Satrapi chose to tell her remarkable story as a gorgeous comic book makes it totally unique and indispensable.”
Time Magazine
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From Colombia to Cornelius
Jackie Berry, immigration paralegal at International House, was recently featured in Lake Norman Magazine in an article called " Memories from Home". In an interview Jackie recalled childhood memories of growing up in Colombia and talked about the novena (or nine-day devotion) and the taste of her mother's traditional Columbian "Bunuelos con Melao.
Read the entire article >>
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Get Involved |
Home Hosts Needed!
If you are interested in being a cultural ambassador or home host, please contact Lara Printz at 704-333-8099 or or email lprintz@ihclt.org.
For more information about our people, programs, or organization please email info@ihclt.org or call 704-333-8099.
www.ihclt.org
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2012 Board of Directors |
Mr. Brad Merlie, President
Piedmont Natural Gas
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Mr. Vince Altamura, Vice President
Wells Fargo Corporation
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Ms. Cynthia Aziz, Secretary
Aziz Law Firm, P.A.
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Ms. Brita Formato, Treasurer
Duke Energy Corporation
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Mr. Karim Azar
Globe Express Services
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Dr. Nini RB Bautista de Garcia
Carolinas Asian-American
Chamber of Commerce
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Mr. George Dick
Fifth Third Bank
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Ms. Camille Evans
KPMG
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Mr. Tom Hawkins
Firm Resolve, LLC
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Mr. Andre Laurent
Microsoft
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Mr. Rick Ledsinger
Continental Tire
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Mr. Monte Ritchey
Conformity Corporation
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Mr. Peter Pampillonio
Protiviti
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Mr. Ned Sergew
Citibank
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Mr. Satoshi Watanabe
Wells Fargo Corporation
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