Volunteer Spotlight: Annie

Since our 'Meet Our Intern' posts were so well received, we decided to continue with a series we've been wanting to start for quite some time.  The Elder Program relies heavily on our amazing volunteers; without them, the Elder Program would not be what it is today.  Our volunteers come from a variety of different backgrounds; some are university students, some are retired, some are professionals, some are from the United States, some are from other countries.  Our in-class tutors and at-home mentors donate their time consistently each and every week.  I would like to thank all of our volunteers for the amazing work they do; words cannot thank you enough and we cannot truly express just how much your dedication means not only to the elders, but to all the staff and teachers as well.

From time to time, we would like to introduce you to one of our incredible volunteers.  We'll get to know them a bit, just like we did with the interns.  Without further ado, let us introduce you to Annie!

How did you get involved with the Refugee Elder Program?

I become involved with KRM in the fall of 2010 through an organization at UofL called Bonner Leaders, which asks students to make a significant commitment of service hours to a non-profit.  I knew I wanted to work with international populations and learn more about refugee issues, so I was very excited to begin working with KRM.  During the first half of the year, I focused on youth services and job-readiness ESL, but I will wanted to do more...I received an email saying the Elder Program needed more help, so I started coming on Thursday mornings.

How often do you typically volunteer and how long have you been volunteering?

I starting volunteering with the Elder Program on Thursday mornings in early February of this year.  I now volunteer both Tuesdays and Thursdays; even though my Bonner term in over, I just couldn't get enough of this program!

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering with refugee elders?

The Elder Program is great because the elders are such vibrant people.  I love the relationships we form with one another; how many other people can say they get to spend four hours a week with Bhutanese, Cuban, Karen, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, Burundi, and Iraqi people (among others)?  Building relationships definitely requires coming to the program quite regularly, but it so worth it when the elders know your name, ask how you are doing at school, and pull out a chair for you to sit down next to them.  Lately, I have especially loved working with two Bhutanese men, Praja and Tara; all week long, I look forward to seeing them!  Because of this, every day at the Elder Program is highly rewarding.

What is the most challenging aspect about volunteering with the refugee elders?

The most challenging aspect is definitely the communication barrier.  It is much more difficult in general to learn a new language at an advanced age.  However, the elders surprise me all the time; yesterday, one student who routinely struggles wowed the entire class with his grasp of numbers- he started counting in English and just kept going!

How has this experience changed you?

Working with the elders has helped me learn more about global politics and conflicts in places like Bhutan and Burma.  I have also become less concerned with the general drama of every day life.  Knowing that someone will appreciate me today, even if all I do is spend a couple of hours with them practicing English, means so much when I'm in the middle of a hectic day...Time is a gift almost universally accepted, and being able to give my time to welcoming people to the U.S. is highly fulfilling.  That helps me put my stress and challenges into perspective and keep a positive attitude in life.

Please give us some background information about yourself (career, family, hobbies, etc)...

I am a senior studying at UofL studying French, English and Humanities.  I try to squeeze a political science class in there every semester as well.  Academically, my interests include second-language acquisition, post-colonial literature, and East Asian politics.  I spend a lot of time reading for class, but when I'm not doing homeworking, working at Breadworks, or hang out at KRM, I enjoy watching 'Everybody Hates Chris' with my younger brother, hiking, and traveling.

Anything else you would like to share about the program or elders?

I would urge anyone interested in international relations to try to spend some time with refugees.  It's one thing to think about international relations as what you hear on the radio or read about in a book, but once you start seeing the person side, it becomes impossible to see political issues the same way.

Tara and Annie enjoy the Annual Refugee Elder Art Show!

Thanks for all your hard work Annie!  Be sure to check back as we spotlight more of our wonderful volunteers!