(KCBS)
- Many teens who come to the Bay Area after fleeing war or
religious persecution
often face a rocky
transition as they deal with a new language, different cultural
mores and traditions and conflicts between family and society.
KCBS reporter Patti Reising says
a new program helps young people adjust to American life by
focusing on academic tutoring and human connection.
San Francisco-based Refugee
Transitions has been helping immigrant and refugee families
since 1990, and it has just started a tutoring program for
teens.
"The adults are often
traumatized. The youth are concerned for the parents, and that
affects them attending school," said Laura Vaudreuil, executive
director of Refugee Transitions. "They're trying to bridge two
cultures and each have different values. They want to be like
other kids, but their parents want them to follow their
tradition."
"A lot of the youth will come to
the US and will have missed out on a year or two of school, or
their school was interrupted by the war," she said. "This just
gives them the opportunity to get the support that they need and
that they're maybe not getting in large classrooms at school."
Tutors go into the home and
offer one-on-one help to teens.
"It's a great experience for
volunteers, because they oftentimes become part of the family.
They go into the student's home and learn about a new culture,"
said Vaudreuil. "With the tutoring, the youth [and parents] are
able to develop a trusting relationship with somebody in this
new culture."
There's already a waiting list
for the services of Refugee Transitions. Volunteers are asked to
commit to two hours a week for six months.
For more information go to
http://www.reftrans.org or call (415) 989-2151.
»
02-22-2004
