After several frustrating weeks, the perfect tutor for the Albany refugees soccer team has magically appeared. Suzanne, a former surgeon in the military, now a specialist in ESL tutoring (English as a Second Language) contacted me through a friend this morning, and we talked on the phone.

She is absolutely perfect and is, as I am, eager to help the refugee and immigrant children in any way possible. This English Language tutoring is essential for some of these boys and girls, many are new to America, and are soon to move up to high school.

Some speak English fluently, some can barely speak English, one or two can’t speak English at all. Suzanne and Ali and I are planning to meet with her at her home just outside of Albany next week. Ali has identified six of the soccer team players as being especially needy.

All six of the first batch of students speak variations of the Karen language, spoken in lower Myanmar (Burma) and on the borders of Thailand.

I should say that this program is my idea and creation, it is not being funded or supported by RISSE, the refugee and immigrant support center in Albany. They don’t have the funds. I raised $1,000 on the blog (thank you Iris) to get the tutoring program going, and I don’t know how long that money will last or how great the needs of the young students are.

We’ll find out next week. I have also agreed to help Ali buy a used 14-seat van. The soccer kids need their own van, and Ali needs his own van to drive to games, deliver groceries, take the kids shopping for clothes. He is an extension of their families, most of whom do not have cars.

We think we can get a used van for $3,000 and I am donating $1,000 of my own money to get the van campaign rolling. Ali drives the members of the team around Albany day and night, he takes them to school, to doctor’s appointments, out for food shopping. He tells me he can get a 14 seat van in excellent shape for $3,000.

I’ll put up money to get the van purchase started, and if necessary, pay the full amount. If anyone wishes to help, you can send a contribution to The Gus Fund (van) c/o Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or to me via Paypal. The van is essential if this work is to continue. (Ali claims people have used vans all over the place sitting in their backyards, if you see one or know of one, please e-mail me at [email protected], and thanks.We need a 14-seater.)

I’m thrilled about the new tutoring program. I consider this work a test of my humanity, and a vision of the person I want to be. We are an enormous help to these children, we are transforming and grounding their lives. Thank so much for making the tutoring program happen. I hope Ali will get his van soon, I mean to see that this happens.