Let's Break Down Walls, Not Build Them
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This summer, I’m thrilled to be participating in the Jiran Arabic Community Action Program. I’m hoping that this program is going to let me start taking steps towards breaking down the everyday walls that have been put up in immigrants’ lives in the States.
Four other Arabic students and I will be partnered with Arabic-speaking families in an underserved community in Connecticut. I’ll spend five weeks with them, getting to know the family and the city. They’ll help me improve my Arabic, and I’ll also assist them with tasks that are already pretty difficult as a native English speaker (imagine going to the DMV and not knowing English, or trying to help your kids complete the college application process). Together, all of us are part of a larger project to build understanding between the Middle Eastern population and a representative group of Americans.
Jiran is a new program, only in its second summer, so, as a participant, it’s important to raise money to help pay for program expenses. Once the summer program actually begins, I’ll also get to use what I learn from the fundraising process to lead a workshop with my co-participants, for teens in the area, about the ins and outs of fundraising for their own future endeavors.
Anything that you can donate is extremely valuable to this program. The money we raise will go directly to Jiran – funds will be used to host community events to connect families with the surrounding community as well as with local organizations that can offer them resources. They may also go towards transportation for the students and families to appointments and activities, bonding events for the students and our families, and paying for our shared living space and food, among a long list of other organizational expenses.
If you want to read more about Jiran, check out this link .
Also, stay tuned, as we’ll be making blog posts about our experiences once the program starts at the end of June!
Four other Arabic students and I will be partnered with Arabic-speaking families in an underserved community in Connecticut. I’ll spend five weeks with them, getting to know the family and the city. They’ll help me improve my Arabic, and I’ll also assist them with tasks that are already pretty difficult as a native English speaker (imagine going to the DMV and not knowing English, or trying to help your kids complete the college application process). Together, all of us are part of a larger project to build understanding between the Middle Eastern population and a representative group of Americans.
Jiran is a new program, only in its second summer, so, as a participant, it’s important to raise money to help pay for program expenses. Once the summer program actually begins, I’ll also get to use what I learn from the fundraising process to lead a workshop with my co-participants, for teens in the area, about the ins and outs of fundraising for their own future endeavors.
Anything that you can donate is extremely valuable to this program. The money we raise will go directly to Jiran – funds will be used to host community events to connect families with the surrounding community as well as with local organizations that can offer them resources. They may also go towards transportation for the students and families to appointments and activities, bonding events for the students and our families, and paying for our shared living space and food, among a long list of other organizational expenses.
If you want to read more about Jiran, check out this link .
Also, stay tuned, as we’ll be making blog posts about our experiences once the program starts at the end of June!
Organizer
Gillie Tillson
Organizer
Swarthmore, PA
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