I am eager for you, the Army Of Good, to see what you have done at RISSE through your many generous gifts to the RISSE Amazon Wish List. I couldn’t begin to list all of the gifts you have sent to RISSE, the school is transformed into a busy and colorful and exciting space.
The drums and cymbals you sent are new, and very much loved. Come and see above.
There are only two items left on the wish list, some recycling containers and some Lego Batman Coloring Books. The children have many educational and creative tools to work with. This week, the teachers sent up a drum room so some of the kids let off steam and also play music that is traditional and culturally important to them.
Maria decided to join me at RISSE today, I was grateful for her company, the kids love her. She took the video about of several of the RISSE students beating the drums you purchased for them on the wish list. They just arrived a few days ago. If you want to feel good about the world, just take a look at their faces while they play.
One of the boys, I won’t mention his name, has been suffering awful taunts from the American-born children in his school, they constantly make fun of his dark color. Ali has talked with him and told him to tell the children he is grateful to God for the color he has been given. He never smiled when I first met him, he is smiling now.
The drums have connected him to his world and given him strength and pride. Thanks, you can support these children by donating to the Gus Fund (a/k/a) the Children’s Refugee Fund, c/o Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., or via Paypal, [email protected]. Thanks.
The Wish List has been a godsend for RISSE. Small acts of great kindness. I want you to see what you have done.
Maria and I went to RISSE this afternoon to see Farmaz and some of the other children at the afterschool.
Farmaz forgot to bring the new camera we brought him to school this afternoon, he’s going to e-mail me some photos tomorrow. His mother and sister say that he has barely let the camera out of his hands since he got it more than a week ago. He has taken countless selfies and family photos and pictures of his stuffed dogs.
A camera was the only thing he wanted for his birthday, it was a joy to give one to him. We got him a beginner’s V-Tech digital camera for $45, thanks to the Army Of Good.
Farmaz and I had some fun today. He is too shy to talk but he did agree to thumb wrestle with me, he won two of out three games. He is very shy and has not yet spoken directly to me, apart from nods and shakes of the head, but we are making progress communicating. He smiles and laughs a lot, he has a wicked sense of humor.
He speaks English well, and he certainly gets a joke
His mother has invited Maria and I to dinner as soon as she gets a night off. We have gratefully accepted.
He says he wants to be a scientist but he loves photography very much. We met his sister Farkhonda, she is outspoken and charismatic. She wants to be a singer.
Farmaz is from Afghanistan, his father was killed there, he lives with his sister and mother. I am coming to see him next week, I’ll be watching closely to see if he is ready over the next few months for a better camera, perhaps a small point and shoot.
Farmaz will need some support, his family is poor, his mother works day and night at several jobs, all of them minimum wage. They are gifted and motivated people, they are no threat to us in America.
You can support my work with Farmaz by sending a contribution to The Gus Fund, c/o Jon Katz. P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or to me, via Paypal, [email protected]. Thank you. I hope to have some of his photos tomorrow.
I looked up at the window to the right of my desk, and was shocked to a whole string of figurines and symbols and art pieces. I never noticed it before, I yelled out to thank Maria and she came in looking bewildered.
“I put those up weeks ago,” she said, laughing. “I can’t believe you didn’t see them.” But when, when she thought about it, she wasn’t surprised. When I go into my study, I have something in my mind to write, and it’s true, I don’t see or hear anything. I like this gallery offering, though. I think they all came from my desk, I notice they are not there any longer.
Okay, Army Of Good, here’s my new tutoring scheme for the refugee children.
The RISSE soccer team is comprised of graduates of the RISSE after school program. The soccer team players are all in middle school and high school. I asked Ali how many of these boys and girls need special tutoring – English, computing, art.
He immediately identified six of these kids as being in urgent need of English and language tutoring.
One is going to graduate from high school in a year or two and has only been in America for a few months, he is struggling to speak in even basic English, and will soon have to figure out how to fill out job or college applications and write essays.
The Albany public schools are doing their best, but are overcrowded and underfunded, like many other public schools in America. These kids are no longer in the RISSE program, that’s for younger children. Some are thriving, others are newly arrived and not getting the instruction they need.
These kids need help right now – I know them all, some can barely speak English at all and are far behind where they need to be. They are eager to learn, have a positive learning attitude and will apply themselves, I see how they take on responsibility and listen.
My idea – the most immediate and least expensive – is to raise money to hire private tutors to work with them one on one. The college of St. Rose is right down the street from RISSE, and some of the students have volunteered to do occasional tutoring, but the program is sporadic and unfocused.
These six young people are falling behind. We are also canvassing the young girls on the basketball team to see if any need special tutoring as well.
I called the college this morning and asked what it would cost of we paid the students a small hourly rate to come once or twice a week and sit down with the six students in particular need. We could do it one at a time, or in small groups. The college is excited about it and Ali is wild about the idea, he called it the “greatest idea ever,” his highest praise.
He jumped at it right away. There is a lot of good points to this approach. It is very inexpensive, it doesn’t create a permanent bureaucracy, the money goes straight into private one-on-one tutoring and should yield very quick results. And just in time. We can change lives here, and for pennies.
I like it, and I know it can work. These are kids who are dying to learn. I’m going to talk to one of them this afternoon, and I will write about him. He will be the pilot student on this project. He is desperate to learn English. I’ve seen how intense these young people can be about learning. They want to be successful in America, as they are being successful on the soccer field.
And I will be asking for help. This will not be a large amount of money, and and I can’t think of a better investment.
These are our brothers and sisters in America, we must keep the flame of generosity and freedom burning. I’m proposing we pay the St. Rose students $10 an hour – some may choose to work for free.
One at a time, until all six get the help they need. I’d like to start by raising a few hundred dollars and putting the money in a separate tutoring fund. As we need it, we can draw from it, but only for these six children. It might evolve or change, but I think it will work. This money will only be used for tutoring these six children, not for anything else.
If you wish to help, please donate to The Gus Fund, c/o Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Mark the payment “Tuition Fund.” Thanks much.
I’ll pup up photos of each, starting today. As always, you will see where the money goes and to whom.
Some good news on the refugee front. The RISSE Amazon Wish List – wiped out repeatedly by the Army Of Good – is back up again, a modest list with four items ranging from recycling containers to beads to coloring books. The AOG has cleaned out the list 10 or 12 times now, and thank you. This is a good way to support the refugees and immigrants and their after school. Your support is desperately needed and deeply appreciated.
Today, I’m going to Albany to see Farmaz, we got him a beginner’s digital camera, the only thing he wanted for his birthday. He lives with his mother and sister in Albany, his father was killed in Afghanistan. His mother works several jobs cleaning offices and hotel rooms.
He asked to meet with me today, he wants to thank me for his camera and show me some of the photos he has taken.
I am excited to see him. Farmaz is a very shy boy and sitting down and talking with me is difficult. I hope to make it easier. I can’t wait to see his pictures. My gut says this is a natural photographer. (Note: I’m bringing two other new digital cameras to RISSE today, so there will be one for each classroom. The teachers will take charge of the cameras, and pass them out, and hopefully, we can put the photos up on a wall.)
