The Smith College
SOPHIAN
Meredith Byers
Saturday, February 23, 2008
A group of students volunteer at the White Street School through Springfield School Volunteers. The tutors work with students who have recently emigrated from Somalia and need help with the transitions that accompany such a move. The tutors primarily work on language instruction.
The White Street School, located in the Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield, has 300 children in grades K-5. Forest Park consists primarily of rental housing and the school has a large population of Vietnamese immigrants, African Americans and Puerto Rican students. Ninety-five percent of the families are living under the poverty level - $17,000 for a family of three.
The program hopes to enhance the Somali students' learning, particularly with reading comprehension, as well as to provide personal, one-on-one support for the children.
Many of the members of the Somali population in Springfield have lived in refugee camps and did not attend formal schools. Others were professionals who were forced to start over their lives. The children often play a key role in helping their families adapt to a new culture and a new country.
The White Street program is an America Reads agency.
Tiertza-Leah Schwartz, director of Voluntary Services, has been working with S.O.S. for 23 years. "Our interest with immigrants comes from the needs of the organizations - which fit nicely with the interests of our students," she said.
Phoebe Camilletti '11 recently began tutoring at White Street. "A typical day at the school consists of going over the children's schoolwork and helping them with whatever they're doing at the time," she said. Camilletti goes to White Street once a week for an hour and a half. She praised the program and its values: "These children are, for the most part, very intelligent and eager to learn. They're also so sweet! They simply need a bit of extra help, and their relationship with the Smith student has the potential to be amazing because of the give-and-take involved." She continued, "They benefit from our attention and guidance; we reap their youth, spirit, and perseverance. It's also really great to be able to have the cross-cultural experience. There's so much each participant can learn from the other."
Camilletti added that even though she's just started at White Street, "I already feel so accomplished! Working with immigrants gives students a legitimate opportunity to see their efforts in action…I feel that students really appreciate and admire their tutors, and such is a reward in itself."
In addition to White Street, students can volunteer with the Center for New Americans in Northampton. Estelle Dolan '10 trained with the center in October. She tutors one student at a time, and meets once a week for an hour at the center or a library. "Sometimes I prepare a lesson beforehand from magazines or books or exercises, but usually we go over things that need [to be] clarified from the student's weekly lesson," she said. Dolan added that almost all of the students are taking ESL lessons at the center. "My tutoring is supposed to complement that student's more structured weekly schedule."
Caredwen Foley '09, recruitment intern for S.O.S., encourages students to get involved: "I think S.O.S.'s work with immigrants helps people of immense promise fulfill their potential, despite the disadvantages posed by language and cultural barriers. I think it's important for Smithies to get involved because Smith strives to promote cultural understanding, and what we learn on campus can be complemented by what we learn through service."
S.O.S. is also looking for a Vietnamese-speaking tutor for students at Central High School who recently arrived in the United States.
Students who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact Tiertza-Leah Schwartz, director of Voluntary Services at x2758 or [email protected]. Schwartz is in charge of student placements and is in constant contact with the agencies.
Students can also e-mail [email protected].
S.O.S is a group dedicated to providing a comprehensive community service program comprised of both short-term and long-term projects. Short-term projects include visiting nursing homes, visiting veterans at a local hospitals and refurbishing local housing. Long-term projects include tutoring children, leading a Girl Scout trip and volunteering at a local day care center. S.O.S. makes every attempt to provide placements for students in every area of interest.
Source: SOPHIAN, Feb 23, 2008