Refugee youth who attend New York area schools have unique identities, but they share a common story. All have been forced out of their homes, communities, and countries by brutal conflicts that threatened and, in too many cases, destroyed their ways of life.

From war-torn places such as Kosovo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, refugee youth arrive in the New York area with hopes for a new beginning. They also arrive to face many challenges. They leave behind everything they have ever known – friends, communities, schools, and homes – to rebuild their lives in a place that is entirely new. Many have not seen a classroom in years, and some have never had the benefits of formal schooling. Few can speak, read, or write in English, and yet many are required to enter American schools at or near their age-appropriate grade-level. Many public schools are ill equipped to address the specific academic needs of refugee students, especially when psychological and social development has been disrupted by war and displacement. As a result, refugee youth are left to flounder in classes, struggling to read, understand, and contribute to conversations with their teachers and peers.

Founded in 1999, the Youth Program confronts these obstacles by providing after-school tutoring, homework assistance, and literacy training, as well as creative and recreational activities programs that stress youth development, community building, and self-confidence. The Youth Program cultivates relationships with members of the school system, working with administrators and teachers to determine how to best address the unique educational and social needs of refugee youth, both in and outside of the classroom. The Youth Program also collaborates with other service providers to offer opportunities for refugee youth to participate in activities that contribute to their emotional and social development.