Have you ever felt helpless?
When the revolution in Syria began, in 2011, each week brought progressively worse news. What began as peaceful protests, asking for basic freedoms and expressing dissatisfaction with the government, soon devolved into the current state of violence, with death and destruction becoming the daily narrative.
As a Syrian-American, living in the US, I could only do so much. I protested at various rallies calling for sanctions against the Assad government and a no-fly zone, and I did my part in advocating the cause with elected officials ' but I felt like that only got me so far. What was I doing to affect real change? Short of actually going to Syria, what could I do to make a difference?
And, in 2015, the opportunity presented itself.
Here in Chicago, an organization was formed to help Syrian refugees adjust to life in the US. The Syrian Community Network (SCN) works in conjunction with the resettlement agencies that bring families to Chicago, and helps to fill in the gaps where the resettlement may feel overwhelmed and under-funded. These families have already experienced the trauma of forcibly leaving their homeland, so SCN tries to make the transition as seamless as possible through various programs and services.
One program they offer is the volunteer program ' an opportunity to volunteer with Syrian families in either an as-needed basis, or in a more in-depth capacity by serving as a mentor.
So, I signed up to become a mentor myself ' jumping at the opportunity, finally, to feel like I could impart some positive, albeit small, effect on such a terrible situation. But soon after, I was contacted by a friend who serves on the organization's board, asking if I would be interested in joining the staff to help flesh out the volunteer program.
So, I got to work.
Within a couple of months, SCN held their first-ever volunteer training session, attended by over 60 potential volunteers, and they have, to date, paired the families with over 50 mentors and counting.
The volunteers play a vital role in making the families feel welcome ' it bridges the divide they may feel from the wider community, and ensures they feel less isolated in these first few months, the most crucial time in the resettlement process. Seeing the impact the volunteers have on the families' lives has been incredibly rewarding. Like young Hasan, becoming more open to going to daycare, while his mom attends ESL classes because English is not a scary, new language, but rather the gentle words he hears from the mentors who have become an extended part of the family. Or, Muhammad who excelled at a youth soccer league that his family's mentor kindly signed him up for, because she knew he loved soccer, even helping shuttle him to and from practice.
My #MyGivingStory may not be about monetary giving, but rather it's about giving back my time to support those in need. I've always believed that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. And, SCN has provided me the opportunity to do that.
Review from #MyGivingStory