More good news, Francis Sengabo, the Operations Director of RISSE, the refugee and immigrant center based in Albany, messaged me to say that a reader of the blog send RISSE a significant contribution to help pay for Jorsein Mayor’s tuition for special tutoring and education at RISSE for the coming school year.
Jorsein is 13 years old now, and is no longer eligible for the federal subsidy that paid for him to work on English and other schools urgently needed if he is to continue his public school education here. His parents speak no English and his teachers say he is in danger of falling far behind.
RISSE is the only agency for hundreds of miles that offers this special tutoring and education for newly arrived refugees and immigrants. It costs RISSE $4,888 a year and a number of their students are turning 13 this year.
The contribution was for $1,000, and I received additional donations for Jorsein, a sweet and eager young man from Thailand, he is also a member of the RISSE soccer team. His family came her to escape persecution in their country.
I’ll keep at it, but I think we can take care of Jorsein. RISSE is introducing me to the young students in the most urgent need of help. I’ll write about them one at a time.
RISSE does not refuse to accept students who can’t pay, no one will be turned away.
But this will cost this very underfunded refugee agency $73,320 in the coming year, much more if proposed federal budget cuts for refugee programs take effect. I am not even suggesting we can raise that kind of money, but I think we can make sure the neediest of these young students get their tuition paid, so RISSE can continue this work.
I know Jorsein, he has a great spirit about him. If he turns away from school or falls too far behind, the alternatives for him are dangerous and disturbing. RISSE can help him, as they have helped many others.
You can send donations for tuition directly to RISSE – make sure to say its for Jorsein or the students in need of tuition – or if you prefer, you can send contributions to me, c/o Jon Katz, Children’s Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816., or via Paypal, [email protected]. I work with the personal and cultural needs of the refugee children and adults, RISSE and I work closely together. My scholarship program has awarded small grants to three people so they can pursue their special interests, more on the way.
Thanks, whoever sent that donation to RISSE.
One kid at a time. We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.
Thank you for the much needed uplifting news. As you are aware we’ve had a difficult time here in Virginia this week. I am Jewish and currently reading The Zookeeper’s Wife. It’s a heartwrenching (albeit beautiful) read on it’s own but combine it with the sad state of affairs we are currently in makes it even more difficult. It’s refreshing to know that so many are so willing to help others. I recently participated in a fundraiser by the Richmond SPCA that I thought was a great idea. You could design your own t-shirt (perhaps using images from the farm or Maria’s artwork) and once the goal is met (but can be exceeded) the shirts print and are mailed directly to those who purchased. If you don’t meet the goal, you just cancel the order – no loss of funds bc shirts are only printed when goal is met. I can confirm that the quality of the shirts is wonderful. I know many would love to strut around in a Bedlam Farm tee! Just a thought! http://try.bonfire.com
Thanks Fran, I’m sure it was a trying week, and good luck with your shirts…Nazi analogies can often be overdone, but not this week I guess..Hope your family is handling it well.