Volunteer Spotlight: Bethany

It's time to meet another one of our dedicated volunteers!  Meet Bethany:

The lovely Bethany!

Bethany is involved with the mentoring part of the Elder Program.  She's mentored two different elders: one from Somalia and one from Bhutan.  Even though we don't get to see Bethany at the Elder Program, she is vital to the success of the program!  Read below to learn a little bit more about Bethany:

How did you get involved with the Refugee Elder Program?

I first got interested in refugee/internally displaced people and the issues surrounding them on a trip I took to Colombia in 2010. While there, I met many internally displaced people and was inspired and upset about the stories they told me and all the violence and injustice they've witnessed. When I got home, I knew I wanted to work more with refugees in my own town.

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

I started volunteering with KRM in 2010. I usually volunteer once a week at an elder's home, talking with them and going over the things they've been learning in class that week.

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

Most of all, I love just getting to know them! I've worked with two women, and they were both very quiet and reserved at first. But the more we got to know each other, the more they seemed to open up and welcome me. The last woman I worked with, Juna, is such a special lady. It had been so rewarding to see her gain more confidence in herself and to learn more about her background.

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

The language barrier is definitely the most challenging. It can be really hard to communicate when you speak different languages, but both of the elders I worked with live with younger family members who were able to help us with translating.

How has this experience changed you?

Working with the elders has helped me put faces and personalities with the stories about refugees/IDPs in the news. I feel more of a responsibility to learn about and advocate for refugee rights since volunteering as a mentor. I'm also inspired by the elders' determination and will to learn. The refugee elders have been through things that I can never fully understand, but they still want to learn and improve their situations rather than give up.

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

I'm a reporter with the Presbyterian News Service and I travel a lot for work. I've been all over the United States and to Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela and Jordan for my job. I'm also getting married next year!

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

I love the elder program and the elders! I'm so happy this service exists here in Louisville, and I hope it continues to help elders and bring in more volunteers.

Bethany, thanks for all your hard work!  Congratulations on your upcoming wedding; we can't wait to hear all about it and see some photos.  If you're interested in becoming a mentor like Bethany, please contact either Jenny Heineken Johnson at jjohnson@kyrm.org or Chris Clements at cclements@archlou.org.  If you'd like to read the stories of some of our other volunteers, click here.

Volunteer Spotlight: Rick and Mary Ellen

It's time to meet some more of our fabulous volunteers!  We are pleased to introduce to Rick and Mary Ellen:

Mary Ellen with Emma, the elder whom she and Rick have been mentoring for over two years!

How did you get involved with the Refugee Elder Program?

We have been supporters of KRM from its beginning 20 years ago, but since we worked full-time, our volunteer time was limited.  When we learned about the mentoring project to support the Elder Program, we thought it might be a good fit for us.  We were interested not only in English tutoring, but in helping elders prepare for the citizenship test in a few short years.

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

We have a one-hour tutoring session once a week in our elder's home.  We've been volunteering for over two years, and have rarely missed a week except for vacation or sickness.  Occasionally we're also gone on some of the Elder Program's field trips, such as to the Federal Building.  Now that we are no longer working, we both do more community volunteering, including Mary Ellen tutoring and substitute teaching in KRM's ESL program.

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

We enjoy the friendship we have developed with Emma and others in her family.  We admire her positive attitude and joy of life.  We've had fun adding some special activities- an evening visit to Waterfront Park, a wine-tasting, going to an ice cream shop to celebrate a birthday, and a field trip to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace.

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

Learning a new language is never easy, but retention of new grammar and vocabulary as well as listening comprehension seems far more difficult for our older refugee arrivals.  The elders are isolated in their homes and do not have the advantage of a workplace or school for daily practice of English.

How has this experience changed you?

It has given us a broader understanding of the challenges of teaching a second language.  Upon retirement, we have both become certified in teaching English as a Second Language, so our tutoring gives us firsthand practice.  We hope to teach ESL abroad in the future.

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

Rick and Mary Ellen are married with adult children and just retired at the end of 2010.  Mary Ellen had been Executive Directive of GuardiaCare Services, a non-profit agency serving seniors and the families who care for them; she began her career as a university advisor to international students.  After an earlier career in banking, RIck was an email administrator for MMC, a large global corporation in Louisville for the last ten years.  Rick is also active in the Rotary and Scouting.  Together, Mary Ellen and Rick have hosted many foreign visitors and have traveled to many part of the world.  On nice days, you'll find them kayaking!

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

The resilience and adaptability of the elders is inspiring!  We have such administration for the hard work, creativity and dedication of the Refugee Elder Program's staff and volunteers.  The support provided by this program is absolutely essential to help our older refugees succeed in adjusting to their new country!

Rick and Emma celebrating her birthday!

Thanks Rick and Mary Ellen for your long-term service!  And on a personal note, I'm always excited to see Mary Ellen when she is able to spot by the office for a visit- she is always so encouraging!  If you would like to meet more of our volunteers, be sure to read our Volunteer Spotlight series!

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!